/pat"ee oh', pah"tee oh'/ , n. , pl. patios .
1. an area, usually paved, adjoining a house and used as an area for outdoor lounging, dining, etc.
2. a courtyard, esp. of a house, enclosed by low buildings or walls.
[ 1820-30, Amer. ; patium meadow, pasturage, perh. deriv. of L *patitus, ptp. of patere to lie open. See PATENT ]