I. ˈspās noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French espace, from Latin spatium — more at speed
1.
a. : lapse of time between two points in time
the brief intermission allowed little space to relax
b. : a period of time : spell
now there was peace for a space
especially : a relatively short interval of time
during the contemplative space after breakfast and before work — Rebecca West
a brief resting space
— often used in the phrase space of time
this space of time wrought many changes — I.M.Price
c. : a specified quantity of time : duration
this continued by the space of two years — Acts 19:10 (Authorized Version)
nine times the space that measures day and night — John Milton
we stood for the space of a second or two — Francis Shean
2.
a. : a limited extension in one, two, or three dimensions : a part marked off or bounded in some way : distance , area , volume
written communication across the intervening space was more quickly accomplished — R.H.Brown
from the spaces under the trees about the house one looked toward the south — Elizabeth M. Roberts
space left in a petroleum product container to allow for expansion during temperature changes — Proving Ground
inner cells of land plants in contact with the outside air through the interconnecting intercellular spaces — Botanical Review
b. : an extent or area set apart or available for a particular purpose
the open-air lot would contain 945 parking spaces — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union
1800 square feet of floor space
the seating space of an auditorium
down in the gasoline space deep in number five hold — K.M.Dodson
c. : an unobstructed area (as of land)
an inner zone of parks, public gardens, and open spaces — H.W.H.King
between the clumps of nutmeg and azalea, wide open spaces baked in the hot sunshine — R.L.Stevenson
a land of wide open spaces with a sparsely scattered population — London Calling
men whom the free spaces of thought frightened — V.L.Parrington
the social area between built-up conventions and the wide open spaces where riotous instincts roam at will — C.W.Cunnington
d.
(1) : the shaped volume defined by architectural forms (as walls, roofs, courts, and wings)
translations of architectural space into two dimensions — J.P.Coolidge
the appropriate use of space in small rooms has not been fully solved — Gladys Miller
(2) : the representation or effect of three-dimensional forms and volumes in painting ; also : an instance of this
the actual lines and colors and spaces in a work of art — Clive Bell
3. : one of the degrees between or above or below the lines of a musical staff
4.
a.
(1) : a three-dimensional entity that extends without bounds in all directions and is the field of physical objects and events and their order and relationships
(2) : a part of space unaltered by removal of a material object
b.
(1) : a mathematical model that pictures physical space as three-dimensional, as partly filled with material bodies, as capable of existence if all physical bodies were destroyed, and as determining but not determined by the relative positions of bodies : absolute space
(2) : a mathematical model that pictures physical space as dependent on and solely determined by the relative position and direction of material bodies
(3) : any of various mathematical models devised to explain observed or postulated phenomena inexplicable upon the assumption of a three-dimensional space unaltered by changes in the relations and state of material bodies — see space-time
c. : the a priori form of one's experience of external phenomena
5.
a. : the region beyond the earth's atmosphere — see outer space
b. : all of the universe beyond the solar system : the sidereal universe
interstellar space
6.
a. : a blank interval between words or lines in written or printed matter
b.
(1) : a piece of type that is cast less than type high so as not to print and is used to separate words or characters in a line ; specifically : such type when narrower than an en quad — compare quad
(2) : a blank area in printing caused by the use of such type ; also : a comparable unexposed area in photocomposition
c. : the measure of room that a typewritten character occupies on the paper or that is left blank by one movement of the space bar
indent the first line several spaces — Modern Language Association Style Sheet
d. : the measure of room that a line of typewriting occupies on the paper
drop three spaces and indent
7.
a. : a mathematical aggregate of n elements and n dimensions
b. : a three-dimensional region
8. : an expanse of empty air extending outward and downward from a particular point
cornices which hung out over space on both sides — N.B.Clinch
9. : a vague conception of distance and expansiveness induced by a listless or dreamy mental state
was reminded of those dreamy spells of hers, the way she used to go drifting off into space — Hamilton Basso
10. : a place left open in the pattern of a game of solitaire by the play of a card and made available for occupancy by another card
11. : an interval in operation during which a telegraph key is not in contact
12.
a. : linage 1, 3
sell space for a newspaper
space in the newspaper is always restricted — F.L.Mott
reproduced his delicate drawings badly, paid him by space — F.J.Mather
b. : time available on radio or television especially to advertisers
air space is even more valuable than paper space — Joanna Jonsson
13. : accommodations obtained or available on a public transportation vehicle
the passenger agent was pretty sure there wouldn't be space on the incoming flight — J.S.Redding
especially : such accommodations when reserved in advance
reserved his space two weeks ago
•
- in the mean space
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to bound in space : determine the spatial limits of
2. : to place at intervals : separate by periods of time : arrange with spaces between : interspace
houses spaced as irregularly as pins on a map — American Guide Series: New York City
space children born in a family
— often used with out
the farms were small, and spaced out from four to five miles apart — H.L.Davis
— see space out
intransitive verb
: to leave one or more blank spaces (as in a line of typing)
III. noun
1. : a set of mathematical entities (as points or vectors) with a set of axioms of geometric character — compare metric space herein topological space herein vector space herein
2. : the opportunity to assert or experience one's identity or needs freely
we make the space that other women will occupy — Marge Piercy