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terrace

1. A raised level space, shelf, or platform of earth, supported on one or more sides by a wall, a bank of tuft, or the like, whether designed for use or pleasure.

2. A balcony, especially a large and uncovered one.

3. A flat roof to a house; as, the buildings of the oriental nations are covered with terraces.

4. A street, or a row of houses, on a bank or the side of a hill; hence, any street, or row of houses.

5. (Science: geology) A level plain, usually with a steep front, bordering a river, a lake, or sometimes the sea.

many rivers are bordered by a series of terraces at different levels, indicating the flood plains at successive periods in their history. Terrace epoch.

(Science: geology) See drift epoch, under Drift.

Origin: F. Terrasse (cf. Sp. Terraza, It. Terrazza), fr. L. Terra the earth, probably for tersa, originally meaning, dry land, and akin to torrere to parch, E. Torrid, and thirst. See Thirst, and cf. Fumitory, Inter, Patterre, Terrier, Trass, Tureen, Turmeric.