Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Area \A"re*a\ ([=a]"r[-e]*[.a]; 277), n.; pl. {Areas} (-[.a]z) .
   [L. area a broad piece of level ground. Cf. {Are}, n.]
   1. Any plane surface, as of the floor of a room or church, or
      of the ground within an inclosure; an open space in a
      building.

            The Alban lake . . . looks like the area of some
            vast amphitheater.                    --Addison.

   2. The inclosed space on which a building stands.

   3. The sunken space or court, giving ingress and affording
      light to the basement of a building.

   4. An extent of surface; a tract of the earth's surface; a
      region; as, vast uncultivated areas.

   5. (Geom.) The superficial contents of any figure; the
      surface included within any given lines; superficial
      extent; as, the area of a square or a triangle.

   6. (Biol.) A spot or small marked space; as, the germinative
      area.

   7. Extent; scope; range; as, a wide area of thought.

            The largest area of human history and man's common
            nature.                               --F. Harrison.

   {Dry area}. See under {Dry}.

Source : WordNet®

area
     n 1: a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary
          (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished
          by its people or culture or geography); "it was a
          mountainous area"; "Bible country" [syn: {country}]
     2: a particular environment or walk of life; "his social sphere
        is limited"; "it was a closed area of employment"; "he's
        out of my orbit" [syn: {sphere}, {domain}, {orbit}, {field},
         {arena}]
     3: a subject of study; "it was his area of specialization";
        "areas of interest include..."
     4: a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or
        function; "the spacious cooking area provided plenty of
        room for servants"
     5: a part of an animal that has a special function or is
        supplied by a given artery or nerve; "in the abdominal
        region" [syn: {region}]
     6: the extent of a 2-dimensional surface enclosed within a
        boundary; "the area of a rectangle"; "it was about 500
        square feet in area" [syn: {expanse}, {surface area}]