Definition of plaza
1a : a public square in a city or townb : an open area usually located near urban buildings and often featuring walkways, trees and shrubs, places to sit, and sometimes shops
2 : a place on a thoroughfare (such as a turnpike) at which all traffic must temporarily stop (as to pay tolls)
3 : an area adjacent to an expressway which has service facilities (such as a restaurant, gas station, and restrooms)
4 : shopping center
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Examples of plaza in a Sentence
They put his statue in the town's plaza.
Recent Examples of plaza from the Web
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Young people from other neighborhoods or out of town have taken to sleeping in the plaza, stashing their shields and helmets in the bushes and bathing in the reflecting pool.
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Bloomberg Philanthropies will provide support for a dedication that will be located on the Memorial Glade, a grassy clearing on the southwest corner of the 8-acre plaza.
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The tribute will be situated in a grassy glade on the southwest corner of the 8-acre plaza at Ground Zero, with memorial architect Michael Arad participating in its design, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office said in a news release.
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M bistro was the sixth restaurant to struggle in the location on the back corner of the plaza near West Sixth Street.
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Courier-Journal An ecumenical memorial service to pay tribute to Muhammad Ali's legacy has been scheduled at the plaza next to the Muhammad Ali Center for Saturday from 8 to 9 a.m.
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There has been a democratization of memorials since the 19th century when town squares and public plazas were marked by resolute figures, typically generals, and usually on horseback.
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The smell of the frying pork fills the air in the plaza outside the Brickyard's Panasonic Pagoda, masking anything that could try to steal its thunder - burgers, chicken tenders, pizza, french fries.
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Amphitheaterlike steps would lead from street level to outdoor plazas atop the podium.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'plaza'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of plaza
Spanish, from Latin platea broad street — more at place
First Known Use: 1683
PLAZA Defined for English Language Learners
plaza
playDefinition of plaza for English Language Learners
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: an open public area that is usually near city buildings and that often has trees and bushes and places to sit, walk, and shop
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: an area on or next to a highway having restaurants, gas stations, restrooms, etc.
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: a place where you stop to pay money before going onto a highway
PLAZA Defined for Kids
plaza
playDefinition of plaza for Students
: a public square in a city or town
Learn More about plaza
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See words that rhyme with plaza Spanish Central: Translation of plaza Nglish: Translation of plaza for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of plaza for Arabic speakers
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