zone
noun [ C ]
uk/zəʊn/ usan area, especially one that is different from the areas around it, because it has different characteristics or is used for different purposes:
a danger/safety zone
a construction/no-parking/nuclear-free zone
one of the areas into which a larger area is divided for a particular purpose:
Most bus fares in the borough are to rise by 43%, while tube users in zone 1 will see an increase of 25%.
The car was going faster than 60 mph in a 40-mph zone.
a charging/fare zone New technology makes it much cheaper to determine whether a vehicle is in a charging zone.
an area of a city that is used for a particular purpose or activity:
a commercial/industrial/residential zone Trucks are permitted within a 20-25 mile commercial zone where they drop off their trailers.
LAW
a geographical region or group of countries that share a particular system, law, etc.:
customs-free/passport-free zones
Next to the airport is a special economic zone, an enclave of relative economic freedom designed to attract investors.
External exchange rates matter less in a single currency zone of such size.
See also
development zone
duty-free zone
enterprise zone
the eurozone
foreign trade zone
free trade zone
special economic zone
time zone
zone
verb [ T ]
uk/zəʊn/ usto give a special purpose to a particular area, such as an area in a town:
be zoned for sth The acreage includes land zoned for commercial usage.
to divide an area of land into different smaller areas:
They will have to zone a sufficient amount of land to meet housing needs.