yard

Universal Words noun 1 (BrE) an area outside a building, usually with a hard surface and a surrounding wall: the prison yard * The children were playing in the yard at the front of the school. seealsoBACKYARD 2 (AmE) = GARDENn.(1) seealsoBACKYARD 3 (usually in compounds) an area of land used for a special purpose or business: a boat yard HELPNOTE You will find other compounds ending in yard at their place in the alphabet. 4 (abbreviation yd) a unit for measuring length, equal to 3 feet (36 INCHES) or 0.9144 of a metre 5 (technical) a long piece of wood fastened to a MAST that supports a sail on a boat or ship IDIOMS see INCHn.