terrace

Everyday

1. A terrace is a flat area next to a house, café or hotel where people can sit outside. tree →
2. (UK) A terrace is a row of houses joined together in a line; these are terraced houses. tree →
3. A terrace is one of a set of flat steps cut into a hillside for growing crops. tree →
4. (UK, Ireland) The terraces are the wide steps in a sports ground where fans stand to watch. tree →

In the lessons

In geography lessons, terraces on hillsides (like rice terraces in Asia) stop soil being washed away and give flat ground for farming. In history and everyday British life, terraced houses were built for factory workers. In football, fans chant on the terraces. Phrases: "terraced house", "rice terraces", "on the terraces", "roof terrace".

Examples

• We had lunch on the terrace in the sunshine. tree →
• We live in a terrace of red-brick houses. tree →
• Rice terraces climb up the hills like giant steps. tree →
• The fans on the terraces sang loudly. tree →
• The hotel has a roof terrace with a pool. tree →
• Farmers terraced the hillside to grow tea. tree →
• When that cloud covers the moon I shall go to the terrace. tree →

Note

Countable: a terrace, terraces. "Terraced house" (UK) = "row house" (US); "end terrace" is the house at the end of the row. In some street names, "Terrace" is part of the address (e.g. "Victoria Terrace") and takes a capital letter.