terrace
terrace — noun
1. a flat, level surface built higher than the ground or floor around it, often ext
a flat, level surface built higher than the ground or floor around it, often extending from a wall or forming part of a garden or building structure
The hotel's rooftop terrace looks out over the old city and the harbour below.
collocation: rooftop terrace
Niran climbed the stairs to the terrace and sat down to rest.
A wide stone terrace wraps around three sides of the old village church.
Rainwater collected on the terrace and drained through pipes along the wall.
用法筆記
This is the broadest sense of terrace, covering any raised architectural level. Distinguish from sense 2, which specifically refers to an outdoor seating or dining area next to a house or restaurant.
2. a flat outdoor area next to a house, café, or restaurant, usually paved or made
a flat outdoor area next to a house, café, or restaurant, usually paved or made of wood, where people sit, eat meals, or relax outdoors
The Wongs sat on their terrace and ate dinner under the stars.
collocation: eat/relax/dine on the terrace
Ingrid planted flowers in pots along the edge of her terrace.
The café terrace was full of customers enjoying the warm afternoon sunshine.
Maeve and Lakshmi moved the chairs onto the terrace to enjoy the garden view.
A small table on the terrace held plates of cake and cups of tea.
用法筆記
Subject is usually a house, café, or restaurant. In American English, patio is more common than terrace for this sense, while terrace is used in both varieties.
常見錯誤
3. a level strip of farmland built like a step on a mountainside, made by flattenin
a level strip of farmland built like a step on a mountainside, made by flattening a section of the slope for planting
Farmers in this region have built terraces on the steep hillsides to grow rice.
pattern: built terraces on [hillside/slope]
The old rice terraces stretch across the mountain like giant green stairs.
Esteban's family has farmed the same terraces for more than three generations.
Water moves from one terrace to the next through small channels in the soil.
用法筆記
Often used in the plural (terraces) because these landforms occur in series. Can also refer to a single step-like area (one terrace).
4. wide, shallow steps in a sports stadium where people stand while watching a matc
wide, shallow steps in a sports stadium where people stand while watching a match, most often seen at British football grounds
Thousands of fans stood on the terraces, cheering for their team throughout the match.
collocation: stand on the terraces
The old stadium still had open terraces behind each goal, with no seats at all.
Eli pushed through the crowd on the terrace to find a spot near the front.
Rain poured down but the supporters on the terraces never stopped singing.
- stands
more general; can refer to seated or covered areas, not just standing steps
用法筆記
Primarily British English, associated with football (soccer) culture. These are standing areas, not seats. All-seater stadiums have replaced many terraces in top-tier British football after the 1990s.
常見錯誤
5. a house in a line of connected homes that share side walls with their neighbours
a house in a line of connected homes that share side walls with their neighbours, each built in a matching style; the word can also refer to the whole line of such houses
Piotr rented a small two-bedroom terrace on a quiet street near the park.
British usage: a terrace = a single terraced house
The houses in this Victorian terrace all have tall windows and original fireplaces.
Isabela's terrace was built in the 1920s along with the other homes in the street.
All the houses in this terrace share the same red brick design and slate roofs.
Kofi bought a narrow terrace on Maple Avenue, with two floors and a small garden.
- row house
American English term for the same type of house
- townhouse
often similar but can imply a more modern or upmarket style
- terraced house
the full form of the British term
- detached house
a house that stands alone with no shared walls
用法筆記
Common in British English. In American English these are called row houses or townhouses. A terrace can refer either to the whole row or to a single house within the row.
常見錯誤
terrace — verb
1. to cut a slope or hillside into a series of flat, level areas that rise one abov
to cut a slope or hillside into a series of flat, level areas that rise one above another like steps, making the land suitable for growing crops
The farmers terraced the hillside to prevent soil from washing away during heavy rain.
pattern: terrace + [hillside/slope/land]
For centuries, villagers in this region have terraced the mountains to grow vegetables and grains.
The non-profit helped local farmers terrace the steep slopes so they could plant wheat.
Henry and his neighbours terraced the land behind the village, creating new fields for beans.
- cut into steps
descriptive phrase rather than a single-word synonym
- level
broader in meaning; does not imply the step-like series
文法句型
terrace + [hillside/slope/land]
用法筆記
Frequently used in passive voice (e.g. 'The hillside was terraced centuries ago'). The direct object is always the land or slope being modified.