/ zəʊn; NAmE zoʊn/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
an area or a region with a particular feature or use :
a war / security / demilitarized, etc. zone
an earthquake / danger, etc. zone
a pedestrian zone (= where vehicles may not go)
—see also no-fly zone , time zone , twilight
2.
one of the areas that a larger area is divided into for the purpose of organization :
postal charges to countries in zone 2
3.
an area or a part of an object, especially one that is different from its surroundings :
When the needle enters the red zone the engine is too hot.
the erogenous zones of the body
—see also crumple zone
4.
one of the parts that the earth's surface is divided into by imaginary lines that are parallel to the equator :
the northern / southern temperate zone
■ verb [ vn ] [ usually passive ]
1.
zone sth (for sth) to keep an area of land to be used for a particular purpose :
The town centre was zoned for office development.
2.
to divide an area of land into smaller areas
► zon·ing noun [ U ]
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PHRASAL VERBS
- zone out
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from French , or from Latin zona girdle, from Greek zōnē .