space
UK[speɪs]US[speɪs]
n
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
n
an empty area, usually bounded in some way between things
n
the interval between two times or events
n
the area beyond the Earth's atmosphere; outer space
v
to place objects or arrange events with intervals between them
Etymology
The word 'space' entered English in the 14th century from the Old French 'espace', a direct borrowing from the Latin 'spatium'. In Latin, 'spatium' carried a rich set of meanings, encompassing a measurable area, a distance to be traversed, a duration of time, and even an interval in a racecourse. This multifaceted concept of an extended, measurable interval—whether physical or temporal—forms the core semantic heritage of the English word. Over centuries, its application broadened dramatically, from describing a gap between objects or a period of time to its most profound modern abstraction: the boundless, three-dimensional expanse containing the universe, and specifically the vacuum beyond Earth's atmosphere. The journey from a concrete Roman racetrack interval to the vast cosmic void illustrates a powerful semantic expansion, all while retaining the fundamental idea of extension and interval.
Analysis
The word 'space' is a simplex word derived from a single root. It originates from the Old French 'espace', which came from the Latin 'spatium', meaning "room, area, distance, stretch of time." The ultimate origin is uncertain but may be from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to stretch, to pull."
Examples
Please leave a space between the lines when you write.
The project must be completed in the space of a month.
Scientists are searching for signs of life in outer space.