noun / verb

terrace

TAIR-uhs/ˈterəs/

A level raised area of ground or construction.

Chairs and a potted plant sit on the stone terrace.

A flat stone paved outdoor terrace adjoining a house with chairs and a potted plant, clear level platform overlooking a slope.

Etymology

terraceOld Frenchplatform raised on earth

Old French terrasse denoted a platform raised on a mound of earth. The meaning broadened from this built-up structure to a flat outdoor space beside a building or on a slope.

In context

The Enes Yılmazer Podcast9:53

the front-facing terrace. It's another great outdoor space. We mentioned earlier, this penthouse has 2,700 square feet of outdoor terraces, and this is another one of them. Seating area here

Touring a $20,000,000 NYC Penthouse With a Massive Rooftop Deck

More examples

We eat lunch on the hotel's rooftop terrace.
Olive trees grow on narrow terraces along the hillside.
Farmers terrace the steep slopes to create level planting areas.

Forms

terrace · terraces · terraced · terracing

Similar words

patio: Usually a paved ground-level area, not necessarily raised.
balcony: Projects from an upper floor rather than resting on ground.
plateau: A broad elevated landform rather than a narrow level strip.