playground

playground — noun

1. a fenced or open space outside, usually next to a school or inside a park, with

1.名詞A2
釋義

a fenced or open space outside, usually next to a school or inside a park, with swings, slides, and other equipment for young children to play on.

例句

Maya pushed her little brother on the swings in the school playground.

in the playground (location preposition)

The new playground at Central Park has a wooden castle and a long blue slide.

noun phrase: the new/old/local playground

同義詞
  • play area

    more general; can be indoors or smaller

  • playpark

    British, informal; a small park built mainly for play equipment

  • recreation ground

    more formal; usually a larger area that includes sports pitches

文法句型

in the playground

on the playground

用法筆記

Often takes 'in' (British English) or 'on' (American English) as the location preposition. Frequently modified by 'school', 'public', or 'children's'.

常見錯誤

I played at the playground yesterday with toys.
I played in the playground yesterday on the swings.
💡pair 'playground' with the equipment that lives there (swings, slides, climbing frames), not generic 'toys'.

2. a place that one type of person, such as the rich, surfers, or skateboarders, tr

2.名詞B2
釋義

a place that one type of person, such as the rich, surfers, or skateboarders, treats as their favourite spot for fun and free-time activities.

例句

The Greek islands have long been a playground for wealthy European tourists.

a playground for + group noun

Since the new ramps opened, the old harbour has become a playground for local skateboarders.

become a playground for + group

同義詞
  • haunt

    a place someone visits often, but usually about one person, not a whole group

  • paradise

    stronger; suggests near-perfect conditions for an activity ('a surfer's paradise')

  • hotspot

    more about being popular and busy than about leisure for a specific group

文法句型

a playground for [group of people]

the playground of [group]

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is figurative and almost always followed by 'for' or 'of' plus a group of people; the place itself is rarely a children's play area. Often carries a slight critical tone when the group is rich or powerful.

常見錯誤

Monaco is a playground rich people.
Monaco is a playground for rich people.
💡the preposition 'for' (or 'of') is required to introduce the group.