Collins English-English Dictionary

zone [zəυn]

1. 1. n a region, area, or section characterized by some distinctive feature or quality

2. 2. n a sphere of thought, disagreement, argument, etc

3. 3. n an area subject to a particular political, military, or government function, use, or jurisdiction

   a demilitarized zone

4. 4. n [often capital] [geography] one of the divisions of the earth's surface, esp divided into latitudinal belts according to temperature - See Torrid Zone Frigid Zone Temperate Zone

5. 5. n [geology] a distinctive layer or region of rock, characterized by particular fossils (zone fossils), metamorphism, structural deformity, etc

6. 6. n [ecology] an area, esp a belt of land, having a particular flora and fauna determined by the prevailing environmental conditions

7. 7. n [maths] a portion of a sphere between two parallel planes intersecting the sphere

8. 8. n [sport] a period during which a competitor is performing particularly well

   Hingis is in the zone at the moment

9. 9. n [modifier] of or relating to competitive performance that depends on the mood or state of mind of the participant

   a zone player

10. 10. n [archaic or literary] a girdle or belt

11. 11. n [NZ] a section on a transport route; fare stage

12. 12. n [NZ] a catchment area for pupils for a specific school

13. 13. n See zone

14. 14. vt. [tr] to divide into zones, as for different use, jurisdiction, activities, etc

15. 15. vt. to designate as a zone

16. 16. vt. to mark with or divide into zones

17. 17. vt. [NZ] to establish (an area) as a zone for a specific school

18. 18. vt. [Etymology] C15: from Latin zona girdle, climatic zone, from Greek zone