Acre

Definition

Acre is a noun that refers to a unit of area commonly used in the United States and the United Kingdom to measure land. One acre is equivalent to 4,840 square yards, or approximately 4,047 square meters.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈeɪkər/
• Respelling: AY-kur

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈeɪkə/
• Respelling: AY-kuh

The pronunciation of "acre" differs slightly between American and British English, particularly in the ending sound.

Etymology

The word "acre" originates from the Old English "æcer," meaning "field" or "open land," and is related to the Latin "ager," meaning "field." The term was historically used to describe the amount of land that could be plowed in one day with a yoke of oxen, eventually becoming standardized as a unit of measurement.

Derivatives

• Acreage (noun)
• Acreful (noun, informal)
• Acreage-based (adjective)
• Acre-foot (noun)
• Acre-wise (adjective, rare)

Synonyms

• Plot
• Lot
• Parcel

Antonyms

• None

Usage

The term "acre" is commonly used in real estate, agriculture, and land measurement to denote large areas of land. For example, "The farm spans over 100 acres," or "They purchased an acre of land near the lake." It is widely recognized as a standard unit for describing land size in English-speaking countries.

Related Terms

• Hectare: A metric unit of area equal to 10,000 square meters, often used in land measurement outside the United States.
• Square meter: A metric unit of area measurement.
• Land: The part of the earth's surface not covered by water, especially in the context of ownership or agriculture.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• A unit of area used in land measurement: Refers to a standardized area equivalent to 4,840 square yards or about 4,047 square meters.
  • Example: "The property covers an area of five acres."
• A large expanse of land: Informally used to refer to a considerable stretch of open land, often in agricultural or rural contexts.
  • Example: "They owned acres of fertile farmland."