— parker , n. — parklike , adj.
/pahrk/ , n.
1. an area of land, usually in a largely natural state, for the enjoyment of the public, having facilities for rest and recreation, often owned, set apart, and managed by a city, state, or nation.
2. an enclosed area or a stadium used for sports: a baseball park.
3. a considerable extent of land forming the grounds of a country house.
4. Brit. a tract of land reserved for wild animals; game preserve.
5. Western U.S. a broad valley in a mountainous region.
6. a space where vehicles, esp. automobiles, may be assembled or stationed.
7. See amusement park .
8. See theme park .
9. any area set aside for public recreation.
10. Mil.
a. the space occupied by the assembled guns, tanks, or vehicles of a military unit.
b. the assemblage so formed.
c. (formerly) the ammunition trains and reserve artillery of an army.
11. Auto. a setting in an automatic transmission in which the transmission is in neutral and the brake is engaged.
v.t.
12. to place or leave (a vehicle) in a certain place for a period of time.
13. Informal. to put, leave, or settle: Park your coat on the chair. Park yourself over there for a moment.
14. to assemble (equipment or supplies) in a military park.
15. to enclose in or as in a park.
16. Informal. to invest (funds) in a stock, bond, etc., considered to be a safe investment with little chance of depreciation, as during a recession or an unstable economic period, or until one finds a more profitable investment.
17. Aerospace. to place (a satellite) in orbit.
v.i.
18. to park a car, bicycle, etc.
19. Informal. to engage in kissing and caressing in a parked car.
[ 1225-75; ME (n.) parc enclosure parricus parruk (see PADDOCK 1 ) ]