terrace

1 of 2

noun

ter·​race ˈter-əs 

ˈte-rəs

1

a

: a relatively level paved or planted area adjoining a building

b

: a colonnaded porch or promenade

c

: a flat roof or open platform

2

a

: one of usually a series of horizontal ridges made in a hillside to increase cultivatable land, conserve moisture, or minimize erosion

b

: a raised embankment with the top leveled

3

: a level ordinarily narrow plain usually with steep front bordering a river, lake, or sea

also : a similar undersea feature

4

a

: a row of houses or apartments on raised ground or a sloping site

b

: a group of row houses

c

: a strip of park in the middle of a street often planted with trees or shrubs

d

: street

5

: a section of a British soccer stadium set aside for standing spectators

terrace

2 of 2

verb

terraced; terracing

transitive verb

1

: to provide (something, such as a building or hillside) with a terrace

2

: to make into a terrace

Synonyms of terrace

Noun

• balcony
• deck
• porch

Examples of terrace in a Sentence

Noun

rice growing in hillside terraces

For sale: large three-bedroom house with adjoining terrace and garden.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Some have a private pool in a small garden (lined with Portuguese rosa aurora marble, as are the three main pools) or a private hot tub on their terrace. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026

Canden Arciniega shuffled on the hot granite terrace on a mid-August morning, counting the names on her list. — Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 20 Aug. 2026

Verb

Slopes that are not terraced require plants that establish quickly, tolerate fluctuating soil moisture levels, and require little care once established. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2026

The house sits on a waterfront parcel terraced with fruit trees, ponds, ferns and reflecting pools. — David Caraccio updated July 30, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French, platform, terrace, from Old French, from Old Occitan terrassa, from terra earth, from Latin, earth, land; akin to Latin torrēre to parch — more at thirst

First Known Use

Noun

1515, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for terrace

• derris
• ferrous
• heiress
• maris
• paras
• teras
• varus
• canaris
• embarrass
• hesperus
• nonferrous
• phalaris

Kids Definition

terrace

1 of 2 noun

ter·​race ˈter-əs 

1

a

: a flat roof or open platform

b

: a level area next to a building

2

a

: a raised piece of land with the top leveled off

b

: one of a group of horizontal ridges made in a hillside to conserve moisture and prevent loss of soil for agriculture

3

: a row of houses on raised ground or a sloping site

terrace

2 of 2 verb

terraced; terracing

: to make into a terrace or supply with terraces