■ noun
1》 a continuous area or expanse which is free or unoccupied.
↘a gap between printed or written words or characters.
↘pages in a newspaper, or time between broadcast programmes, available for advertising.
2》 the dimensions of height, depth, and width within which all things exist and move.
↘(also outer ~ ) the physical universe beyond the earth's atmosphere.
↘the near-vacuum extending between the planets and stars.
3》 an interval of time (indicating that the time is short): both cars were stolen in the ~ of a few hours.
4》 the freedom and scope to live and develop as one wishes.
5》 Mathematics a mathematical concept generally regarded as a set of points having some specified structure.
6》 Telecommunications one of two possible states of a signal in certain systems. The opposite of mark 1 .
■ verb
1》 position (items) at a distance from one another.
↘(in printing or writing) insert ~s between.
2》 ( be ~d out or chiefly N. Amer. ~ out ) informal be or become euphoric or disorientated, especially from taking drugs.
Derivatives
~r noun
spacing noun
Origin
ME: shortening of OFr. e~ , from L. spatium .