Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

relic area

noun

Definition of relic area

: a region that retains characteristic speech features from an earlier stage of a language which have been lost or have undergone greater change in other regions — compare focal area, graded area

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Learn More about relic area

Dictionary Entries near relic area

reliance

reliant

relic

relic area

relicary

relicense

relicensure

Statistics for relic area

Look-up Popularity

Comments on relic area

What made you want to look up relic area? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

Yooper

Listen to the pronounciation of Yooper

one from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Musical Words Quiz

  • gramophone
  • Which word describes a musical performance marked by the absence of instrumental accompaniment?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games