zone

Pronunciation: /zəʊn/

noun

Difficulty: common

Definition of zone

zone (noun): An area or stretch of land distinguished by particular characteristics, boundaries, or purposes, often defined for administrative, functional, or conceptual reasons.

Example: The city council designated a new industrial zone to encourage economic development in the region.

Best for: common-difficulty vocabulary; learners who already know "area" or "region"; GRE Verbal (Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence); SAT Reading & Writing (Words in Context).

Origin of zone

Language of origin: Greek

Root word: zōnē

Original meaning: belt, girdle

How it evolved: Initially used to describe physical belts or girdles, its metaphorical extension to defined areas or regions emerged in later usage.

Derived from the Greek word 'zōnē,' meaning a belt or girdle, the term evolved to signify a bounded space or area.

First known use: 15th century

How to Remember zone

Imagine a circular zone marked on a map—its boundary forms a ‘Z’ shape, helping you think of a clearly defined area.

Synonyms for zone

Antonyms of zone

  • wilderness
  • expanse
  • void
  • chaos
  • unorganized space

zone in a Sentence

  1. The city council designated a new industrial zone to encourage economic development in the region.
  2. Her research focused on the intertidal zone, where land and sea meet in a dynamic ecological interplay.
  3. The demilitarized zone between the two countries remains a stark reminder of geopolitical tensions.

zone in Literature & Culture

The term 'zone' appears in literature like 'The Zone' in the novel 'Roadside Picnic,' symbolizing a mysterious and otherworldly place, and is often used in geopolitical discussions such as 'no-fly zones.'

Usage Notes

The word 'zone' often carries implications of structured or intentional boundaries; it is less commonly used for undefined or natural areas without clear demarcation.

Why zone Matters for GRE & SAT

The word 'zone' is important for GRE test-takers as it frequently appears in reading comprehension and analytical writing sections, where understanding spatial or conceptual divisions is crucial.

Word Family

zonal (adjective)
Pertaining to or arranged in zones.
zonation (noun)
The arrangement or distribution of different zones in a given area.
rezoning (noun)
The process of redefining the boundaries or purposes of a zone.

Did You Know?

  • The concept of time zones was first proposed in the 19th century to standardize timekeeping globally.
  • The Twilight Zone, a classic TV series, popularized the word in a metaphorical sense, referring to mysterious or surreal realms.
  • Zones are often used in urban planning to separate residential, commercial, and industrial areas.

More Vocabulary Words Starting with Z

  • zealous — intensely passionate
  • zealous — intensely passionate
  • zealous — Having great energy or enthusiasm for a cause or objective
  • zealous — Having great energy or enthusiasm for a cause or objective
  • zenith — the point at which something attains its maximum strength or power
  • zenith — the point at which something attains its maximum strength or power
  • zone — An area or stretch of land with particular characteristics