Word

acre

noun C1

/ˈeɪ.kə/

Meanings

noun

a unit of land area equal to 43,560 square feet (about 4,047 square meters)

noun

a large area of land, especially when emphasized as open space

Definition

An acre is a unit of land area, especially used to measure fields and large plots.

An acre is a traditional unit for measuring area of land. It is commonly used in countries such as the US and the UK when talking about farms, parks, and large properties. One acre equals 43,560 square feet, or about 4,047 square meters. People often use it to give a clearer sense of how big a piece of land is.

Examples

The community garden expanded by an acre, which gave volunteers room for fruit trees and wider paths.
I walked the perimeter of the acre to check the fence line after last night’s storm.
She bought an acre outside town to build a small studio and keep the rest as meadow.
They leased an acre from a neighboring farmer to trial a new crop rotation plan.
You can fit a surprising amount on an acre if you plan the layout carefully.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse acre (a unit of area) with hectare and use them interchangeably without converting the size.