zone

1. 1

   Each of the five regions of the earth's surface into which it was divided by climatic differences, namely the torrid zone (between the tropics), two temperate zones (between the tropics and the polar circles), and two frigid zones (within the polar circles).archaic

   • To avoid which, we will take any pains […]; we will dive to the bottom of the sea, to the bowels of the earth, five, six, seven, eight, nine hundred fathom deep, through all five zones, and both extremes of heat and cold […].
   • And while idle curiosity may take its walk in shady avenues by the ocean side, commerce[…]defies every wind, outrides every tempest, and invades every zone.
2. 2

   Any given region or area of the world.

3. 3

   A given area distinguished on the basis of a particular characteristic, use, restriction, etc.

   • There is a no-smoking zone that extends 25 feet outside of each entrance.
   • The white zone is for loading and unloading only.
4. 4

   A restricted category or virtual place.broadly

   • The discussion was veering off into a danger zone.
5. 5

   A band or area of growth encircling anything.

   • a zone of evergreens on a mountain
   • the zone of animal or vegetable life in the ocean around an island or a continent
6. 6

   A band or stripe extending around a body.

7. 7

   A series of planes having mutually parallel intersections.

8. 8

   The strike zone.informal

   • That pitch was low and away, just outside the zone.
9. 9

   Every of the three parts of an ice rink, divided by two blue lines.

   • Players are off side, if they enter the attacking zone before the puck.
10. 10

    A semicircular area in front of each goal.

    • The defender playing at the top of the zone is nine to fourteen metres out from the goal line.

1. 1

   To divide into or assign to sections or areas.transitive

   • Please zone off our staging area, a section for each group.
2. 2

   To define the property use classification of (an area).transitive

   • This area was zoned for industrial use.
3. 3

   To enter a daydream state temporarily, for instance as a result of boredom, fatigue, or intoxication; to doze off.intransitiveslang

   • I must have zoned while he was giving us the directions.
   • Everyone just put their goddamn heads together and zoned.
4. 4

   To girdle or encircle.archaicpoetictransitive

5. 5

   To assign to a restricted category.

   • We've zoned each other as friends; we'll never be anything more.

syn. doze off