zone / zōn/ • n. 1. an area or stretch of land having a particular characteristic, purpose, or use, or subject to particular restrictions: a pedestrian zone. ∎  Geog. a well-defined region extending around the earth between definite limits, esp. between two parallels of latitude. See also frigid zone, temperate zone, torrid zone. ∎  (also time zone) a range of longitudes where a common standard time is used. ∎  Sports in basketball, football, and hockey, a specific area of the court, field, or rink, esp. one to be defended by a particular player, or the mode of defensive play using this system.See zone defense below. ∎  a specific region or area within which uniform rates are charged for transportation, parcel post delivery, or other service. ∎  (in full postal zone) formerly, any of the numbered areas into which a large city or metropolitan area was divided for facilitating mail delivery. ∎  chiefly Bot. & Zool. an encircling band or stripe of distinctive color, texture, or character. 2. Math. an area between two exact or approximate concentric circles. ∎  a part of the surface of a sphere enclosed between two parallel planes, or of a cone or cylinder, etc., between such planes cutting it perpendicularly to the axis. 3. Geol. Paleontology a range between specified limits of depth, height, etc., esp. a section of strata distinguished by characteristic fossils.• v. [tr.] 1. divide into or assign to zones, in particular: ∎  [often as n.] (zoning) divide (a town or stretch of land) into areas subject to particular planning restrictions: an experimental system of zoning. ∎  designate (a specific area) for use or development in such a manner: the land is zoned for housing. 2. archaic encircle as or with a band or stripe.PHRASES: zone defense Sports in basketball, football, and hockey, a system of defensive play in which each player guards an allotted area of the field of play and an opponent only when the opponent is in his area.PHRASAL VERBS: zone out inf. fall asleep or lose concentration or consciousness: I just zoned out for a moment.DERIVATIVES: zon·al / ˈzōnl/ adj.zon·al·ly / ˈzōnl-ē/ adv.ORIGIN: late Middle English: from French, or from Latin zona ‘girdle,’ from Greek zōnē.