Lewis & Short

ārĕa (in inscriptions freq. ARIA, Inscr. Orell. 4130, etc.), ae, f [some comp. ἔραζε = on the ground; Germ. Erde; Engl. earth, hearth; others, as Varro and Festus, connected it with areo, as if pr. dry land, as terra may be connected with torreo; so Bopp and Curt.], a piece of level ground, a vacant place, esp. in the town (syn.: planities, aequor): in urbe loca pura areae, Varr. L. L. 5, § 38 Müll: area proprie dicitur locus vacuus, Paul. ex Fest. p. 11 Müll.: locus sine aedificio in urbe area; rure autem ager appellatur, Dig. 50, 16, 211.

  1. I. Lit., ground for a house, a building-spot: si Ponendae domo quaerenda est area primum, Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 13. arearum electio, Vitr. 1, 7, 1: pontifices si sustulerint religionem, aream praeclaram habebimus, Cic. Att. 4, 1 fin.; Liv. 4, 16; 1, 55; Suet. Vesp. 8; Dig. 7, 4, 10 al.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. A vacant space around or in a house, a court (syn. spatium): resedimus in areā domŭs, Plin. Ep. 6, 20, 4; so id. ib. 7, 27, 10; Vulg. 3 Reg. 22, 10; Dig. 43, 22, 1; 8, 2, 1 al.
    2. B. An open space for games, an open play-ground (syn.: campus, curriculum), Hor. C. 1, 9, 18.
      Hence, in gen., a field for effort, etc. (syn.: campus, locus, q. v.), Ov. Am. 3, 1, 26, and trop.: area scelerum, i. e. where vices have full scope, Cic. Att. 9, 18.
      Also, a raceground, Ov. F. 4, 10 (cf. id. ib. 2, 360); and trop., the course of life: vitae tribus areis peractis (i. e. pueritiā, juventute, senectute), Mart. 10, 24.
    3. C. A threshing floor (among the ancients, an open space in the vicinity of the house).
      1. 1. Lit.: neque in segetibus neque in areis neque in horreis, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 8; Hor. C. 1, 1, 10; id. S. 1, 1, 45; Tib. 1, 5, 22; Vulg. Gen. 50, 10; ib. Isa. 21, 10. Its construction may be learned from Cato, R. R. 91 and 129; Varr. R. R. 1, 51; Verg. G. 1, 178 sqq. Voss; Col. 5, 1, 4; 5, 2, 20; and Pall. 1, 36 al.
      2. 2. Trop., of the body of Christians, as subject to separation, judgment (eccl. Lat.), Vulg. Matt. 3, 12; Aug. Ver. Rel. 5.
    4. D. The halo around the sun or moon: tales splendores Graeci areas (i. e. ἅλωνας) vocavere, Sen. Q. N. 1, 2.
    5. E. A bed or border in a garden, Varr. L. L. 6, § 64 Müll.; Col. 11, 3; Plin. 19, 4, 20, § 60; Pall. 1, 34.
  3. F. A fowling-floor, Plaut. As. 1, 3, 64: aedes nobis area est; auceps sum ego, id. ib. 1, 3, 67.
  4. G. A burying-ground, church-yard, Tert. ad Scap. 3.
  5. H. A bald spot upon the head, baldness, Cels. 6, 4; Mart. 5, 50.