# park

Pronunciation: US say "PAHRK" /pɑɹk/; say "PAHK" UK /pɑːk/, AUS /pɐːk/

## Noun

1. A piece of public ground in or near a city or town, kept with grass, trees, and paths for ornament and recreation.
   - Simple: An open area in a town or city with grass and trees where people relax and play.
   - _Joggers circle the park each morning before the streets get busy._
   - _The city planted hundreds of cherry trees along the park's main path._
3. An open space occupied by, or reserved for, vehicles, military equipment, or supplies.
   - Simple: An open area where vehicles, equipment, or supplies are kept together.
   - _The coach park outside the stadium was full by noon._
   - _The artillery park held rows of guns and ammunition wagons._
4. The field or ground on which a sporting match is played, especially a soccer pitch.
   - Simple: The field where a sports game, especially soccer, is played.
   - _The striker was easily the most dangerous man on the park in the second half._
   - _Heavy rain left the park too muddy for the match to continue._
5. An area of land zoned and developed for a particular industrial or commercial purpose.
   - Simple: An area of land set aside for one type of business or industry.
   - _The county rezoned the farmland as an industrial park to attract manufacturers._
   - _Several biotech startups lease lab space in the park next to the university._
6. A spot in a lot or on a street where a car can be left; a parking space. *(colloquial, Australia, New Zealand)*
   - Simple: A space where you can leave your car.
   - _She circled the lot for ten minutes looking for a park._
   - _If you can't find a park on the street, try the garage on Fifth._
11. The gear selected on an automatic transmission when a car or truck is stopped and left in place, marked with the symbol P on the shifter.
   - Simple: The gear marked P that keeps an automatic car from rolling when it is stopped.
   - _She shifted into park and let the engine idle while she waited._
   - _Many automatics will not let you remove the key unless the car is in park._
7. A large tract of land around or attached to a country house, kept largely natural with woodland and pasture, often enclosed and stocked with deer or game for hunting.
   - Simple: A large area of land around a big country house, with trees and grass, often kept for deer or hunting.
   - _The estate's park stretches for two miles, dotted with ancient oaks and grazing deer._
   - _Visitors to the manor can walk the park's bridle paths in summer._
14. A wide valley with a flat bottom, set within a mountainous region. *(US)*
   - Simple: A wide valley with a flat bottom that lies between mountains.
   - _The herd wintered in a sheltered park ringed by snow-covered peaks._
   - _From the pass, the trail drops into a broad park where the river slows and meanders._
17. The complete stock of military vehicles, artillery, and other equipment held by a force. *(UK)*
   - Simple: The full set of vehicles, guns, and equipment that an army keeps.
   - _By 1944 the division's park amounted to a few worn guns and borrowed transport._
   - _Quartermasters audited the entire park before the regiment shipped overseas._
8. A large tract of land protected in its natural condition for wildlife and for public enjoyment, such as a national or state park.
   - Simple: A large area of wild land that is protected for animals and plants and for people to visit and enjoy.
   - _Hunting is banned inside the park, so elk graze beside the roads without fear._
   - _Campsites in the state parks fill up quickly once the summer season opens._

## Verb

2. To bring a vehicle to a halt and leave it, or to place vehicles, artillery, or equipment, in a particular place for a time.
   - Simple: To stop a car or other vehicle and leave it somewhere for a while.
   - _She parked the truck behind the loading dock._
   - _Airlines park unused planes in desert storage facilities for months at a time._
9. To sit, settle, or place something somewhere, especially in a manner suggesting an intent to remain for some time. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: To sit down or put something somewhere and stay there for a while.
   - _She parked herself at the corner table and refused to move until closing._
   - _You can park the kids in front of a movie while we finish cooking._
10. To set a matter aside and defer it until a later date. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: To decide to deal with something later instead of now.
   - _The committee voted to park the proposal until budget figures were available._
   - _Management parked the merger talks while the lawsuit worked its way through court._
12. To hit a pitched ball out of the playing field for a home run.
   - Simple: To hit a baseball so far that it goes out of the field for a home run.
   - _Ramirez parked a hanging curveball into the upper deck to tie the game._
   - _Few hitters can park an outside pitch the other way like he does._
13. To engage in romantic or sexual activity inside a stopped vehicle that has been driven to a secluded spot for that purpose. *(slang, US)*
   - Simple: To stop a car in a quiet place so a couple can kiss and be alone together.
   - _On weekends, couples parked at the overlook, windows fogging against the night air._
   - _Half the senior class would park out by the reservoir after the dance._
15. To invest money temporarily in a relatively low-risk instrument, especially while awaiting other opportunities.
   - Simple: To put money somewhere safe for a short time until you decide what to do with it.
   - _The fund parked its cash in Treasury bills during the market turmoil._
   - _Many investors park their money in money market funds between trades._
16. To register a domain name without putting it to any active use.
   - Simple: To buy a website name and keep it without building a website on it.
   - _Speculators park desirable domain names, betting that businesses will eventually pay a premium for them._
   - _Before launch, the startup parked a dozen domain names close to its brand name._

## Verb

18. To walk, drive, or ride about in a park for pleasure, often to see and be seen or to show off one's horse or carriage. *(dated)*
   - Simple: In the past, to walk, ride, or drive around a park for fun and to be seen by others.

## Other meanings

- (verb) To shut animals or land within a park or a similarly enclosed space.
- (noun) A partially enclosed basin of shallow seawater in which oysters are raised.
- (verb) To enclose oysters in a park or partially enclosed basin for cultivation.

## Origin

Probably from Frankish *parrik ("enclosure, pen, fence"), the word passed through Medieval Latin parcus or parricus to Old French parc ("livestock pen") and then Middle English park. Relatives include Dutch perk and Old English pearroc, which became modern "paddock," along with similar words in Old High German and Old Norse.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/park (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).