noun
court
A bounded open space bordered by structures or markings.
The players step onto the basketball court and begin warming up.
Etymology
Latin cohors could name an enclosed yard. Court retains that bounded open-space image, whether the boundary is formed by surrounding buildings or by markings for a game.
More examples
- We reserve a tennis court for Saturday morning.
- The apartments surround an open court with a fountain.
- Their house stands on a quiet court that ends at a fence.
Forms
court · courts
courtside adjective — Located beside a marked playing court.
Similar words
- courtyard
- Specifically an outdoor space enclosed by buildings or walls.
- field
- Usually a larger, grassy sports area rather than a surfaced court.