[ter.race] n [MF, pile of earth, platform, terrace, fr. OProv terrassa, fr. terra earth, fr. L, earth, land; akin to L torrere to parch--more at thirst] (1515) 1 a: a colonnaded porch or promenade b: a flat roof or open platform c: a relatively level paved or planted area adjoining a building
2. a: a raised embankment with the top leveled b: one of usu. a series of horizontal ridges made in a hillside to increase cultivatable land, conserve moisture, or minimize erosion
3: a level ordinarily narrow plain usu. with steep front bordering a river, lake, or sea; also: a similar undersea feature
4. a: a row of houses or apartments on raised ground or a sloping site b: a group of row houses c: a strip of park in the middle of a street often planted with trees or shrubs d: street
5: a section of a British soccer stadium set aside for standing spectators
[2]terrace vt ter.raced ; ter.rac.ing (1615) 1: to provide (as a building or hillside) with a terrace
2: to make into a terrace