areal
|a-re-al|
🇺🇸
/ˈɛəriəl/
🇬🇧
/ˈeəriəl/
relating to an area/region
Etymology
'areal' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'area', where 'area' meant 'open space, vacant piece of ground' or 'region'.
'areal' was formed in English by adding the adjective-forming suffix '-al' to Latin 'area' (via New/Modern Latin 'arealis'), eventually becoming the English adjective 'areal'.
Initially, it meant 'pertaining to an area or open space', and this basic sense has continued into modern usage as 'relating to area or distribution across an area'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to area or measured in terms of area (surface extent).
The areal extent of the wetland was recorded after the survey.
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Adjective 2
distributed over or affecting a particular area; occurring across an area rather than at a single point (used in geography, ecology, geology).
The areal distribution of the species is limited to coastal marshes.
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Last updated: 2025/10/10 08:48