yard S2 W2 /jɑːd $ jɑːrd/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Sense 1: Language: Old English ; Origin: geard , gierd 'stick' ]
[ Sense 2-4: Language: Old English ; Origin: geard 'enclosed area' ]
1 . MEASURE ( written abbreviation yd ) a unit for measuring length, equal to three feet or 0.91 metres:
a hundred yards away
an area of 9,000 square yards
2 . ENCLOSED AREA an enclosed area next to a building or group of buildings, used for a special purpose, activity, or business:
a builder’s yard
a timber yard
prison/school yard (=an area outside a prison or school where prisoners or students do activities outdoors)
3 . GARDEN American English the area around a house, usually covered with grass SYN garden British English
front/back yard
The kids were playing in the back yard.
4 . BACK OF HOUSE British English an enclosed area without grass at the back of a small house ⇨ ↑ backyard