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

Also in the plans are covered patios in the front and rear, as well as a new terrace and balconies on the second floor. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025

After persevering through all seven terraces, master and pupil emerge at the top of the mountain, which, in Dante’s sacred geography, is the location of the Garden of Eden, the last cleansing stop before Paradise. —Claudia Roth Pierpont, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025

Verb

The remaining pools, either terraced higher or built above ground, were not affected. —Brittany Anas, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025

Balconies, terracing, bridges, and staircases crisscross the grounds, which span almost a third of an acre. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 22 Sep. 2025

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
• icterus
• nonferrous
• polaris

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