The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Area \A"re*a\ ([=a]"r[-e]*[.a]; 277), n.; pl. Areas (-[.a]z) .
   [L. area a broad piece of level ground. Cf. Are, n.]
   1. Any plane surface, as of the floor of a room or church, or
      of the ground within an inclosure; an open space in a
      building.
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            The Alban lake . . . looks like the area of some
            vast amphitheater.                    --Addison.
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   2. The inclosed space on which a building stands.
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   3. The sunken space or court, giving ingress and affording
      light to the basement of a building.
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   4. An extent of surface; a tract of the earth's surface; a
      region; as, vast uncultivated areas.
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   5. (Geom.) The superficial contents of any figure; the
      surface included within any given lines; superficial
      extent; as, the area of a square or a triangle.
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   6. (Biol.) A spot or small marked space; as, the germinative
      area.
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   7. Extent; scope; range; as, a wide area of thought.
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            The largest area of human history and man's common
            nature.                               --F. Harrison.
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   Dry area. See under Dry.
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