space

noun

(heading) Unlimited or generalized extent, physical or otherwise.

The distance between objects.

The near-vacuum in which planets, stars and other celestial objects are situated; the universe beyond the earth's atmosphere.

A physical extent across two or three dimensions (sometimes for or to do something).

The physical and psychological area one needs within which to live or operate; personal freedom.

A (chiefly empty) area or volume with set limits or boundaries; (architecture) such a space inside or outside a building, often with a specified use.

A physical extent in all directions, seen as an attribute of the universe (now usually considered as a part of space-time), or a mathematical model of this.

(heading) A bounded or specific extent, physical or otherwise.

Anything analogous to a physical space in which one can interact, such as an online chat room.

(countable, figuratively) A field, area, or sphere of activity or endeavour.

(music) A position on the staff or stave bounded by lines.

A gap in text between words, lines etc., or a digital character used to create such a gap.

A gap; an empty place.

(geometry) A set of points, each of which is uniquely specified by a number (the dimensionality) of coordinates.

(countable, mathematics) A generalized construct or set whose members have some property in common; typically there will be a geometric metaphor allowing these members to be viewed as "points". Often used with a restricting modifier describing the members (e.g. vector space), or indicating the inventor of the construct (e.g. Hilbert space).

(heading) Of time.

A specific (specified) period of time.

An undefined period of time (without qualifier, especially a short period); a while.

(letterpress typography) A piece of metal type used to separate words, cast lower than other type so as not to take ink, especially one that is narrower than one en (compare quad).

A surname.

(now rare, archaic) Free time; leisure, opportunity.

verb

(transitive) To set some distance apart.

To insert or utilise spaces in a written text.

(transitive, science fiction) To kill (someone) by ejection into outer space, usually without a space suit.

(intransitive, science fiction) To travel into and through outer space.

To space out (become distracted, lose focus).

(obsolete, intransitive) To roam, walk, wander.

Roots

spatiumspace- · Latin · space

Synonyms for space

interspace spaceband elbowroom spaciousnessn placen blankadj expansen spatialadj airspacen quadrat

Synonyms & related words for space

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of space — including interspace, spaceband, elbowroom, spaciousness, place, blank. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to space

Explore words related to space — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include spaceships, satellites, quasars, spaceless, comets, planets, spaceflight, spacewalker. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for space

Common synonyms for space include interspace, spaceband, elbowroom, spaciousness, place, blank, expanse, spatial — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does space come from?

The word space breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root space-, from Latin spatium (“space”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.