space

English Online Dictionary. What means space‎? What does space mean?

English

Etymology

From Middle English space, from Anglo-Norman space, variant of espace, espas et al., and spaze, variant of espace, from Latin spatium, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)peh₂- (“to stretch, to pull”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: spās, IPA^(key): /speɪs/
• Hyphenation: space
• Rhymes: -eɪs

Noun

space (countable and uncountable, plural spaces)

1. (heading) Unlimited or generalized extent, physical or otherwise.
   1. The Distance between objects. [from 14^thc.]

      Synonyms: break, gap; see also Thesaurus:interspace
   2. A physical extent across two or three dimensions (sometimes for or to do something). [from 14^thc.]

      Synonyms: area, volume
   3. A physical extent in all directions, seen as an attribute of the universe (now usually considered as a part of space-time), or a mathematical model of this. [from 17^thc.]
   4. The near-vacuum in which planets, stars and other celestial objects are situated; the universe beyond the earth's atmosphere. [from 17^thc.]

      Synonym: outer space
   5. The physical and psychological area one needs within which to live or operate; personal freedom. [from 20^thc.]
2. (heading) Of time.
   1. (now rare, archaic) Free time; leisure, opportunity. [from 14^thc.]

      Synonyms: leisure time, spare time
   2. A specific (specified) period of time. [from 14^thc.]

      Synonyms: duration, span; see also Thesaurus:period
   3. An undefined period of time (without qualifier, especially a short period); a while. [from 15^thc.]

      Synonyms: spell, while; see also Thesaurus:uncertain period
3. (heading) A bounded or specific extent, physical or otherwise.
   1. A (chiefly empty) area or volume with set limits or boundaries. [from 14^thc.]
   2. (music) A position on the staff or stave bounded by lines. [from 15^thc.]
   3. A gap in text between words, lines etc., or a digital character used to create such a gap. [from 16^thc.]

      Synonyms: blank, gap, (graphic design) whitespace

      Hypernym: punctuation mark
   4. (letterpress typography) A piece of metal type used to separate words, cast lower than other type so as not to take ink, especially one that is narrower than one en (compare quad). [from 17^thc.]

      Synonyms: quad, quadrat
   5. A gap; an empty place. [from 17^thc.]
   6. (geometry) A set of points, each of which is uniquely specified by a number (the dimensionality) of coordinates.
   7. (countable, mathematics) A generalized construct or set whose members have some property in common; typically there will be a geometric metaphor allowing these members to be viewed as "points". Often used with a restricting modifier describing the members (e.g. vector space), or indicating the inventor of the construct (e.g. Hilbert space). [from 20^thc.]

   8. (countable, figuratively) A field, area, or sphere of activity or endeavour.
   9. Anything analogous to a physical space in which one can interact, such as an online chat room.

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Punctuation

Verb

space (third-person singular simple present spaces, present participle spacing, simple past and past participle spaced)

1. (obsolete, intransitive) To roam, walk, wander.
2. (transitive) To set some distance apart.

3. To insert or utilise spaces in a written text.

4. To space out (become distracted, lose focus).
5. (transitive, science fiction) To kill (someone) by ejection into outer space, usually without a space suit.
6. (intransitive, science fiction) To travel into and through outer space.

Derived terms

• spaced
• spaced-out
• unspace

Related terms

• espace
• spacious
• spatial

Translations

Anagrams

• -scape, EAPCs, EPACs, a-spec, aspec, capes, paces, scape

Old French

Noun

space oblique singular, m (oblique plural spaces, nominative singular spaces, nominative plural space)

1. Alternative form of espace