Standard Lemma guide

esplanade

noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈɛspləˌneɪd/
  • UK: /ˌɛspləˈnɑːd/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /ˈɛspləˌneɪd/
  • US: /ˈɛspləˌnɑd/
  • rhymes with -eɪd
  • rhymes with -ɑːd
  • CMU ARPABET: EH2 S P L AH0 N AA1 D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A clear space between a citadel and the nearest houses of the town.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The glacis of the counterscarp, or the slope of the parapet of the covered way toward the country.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A grass plat; a lawn.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Any clear, level space used for public walks or drives; especially, a terrace by the seaside.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

Grassy strips between two divided highway lanes; a traffic island.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Texas

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

a long stretch of open level ground (paved or grassy) for walking beside the seashore

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: promenade, mall

History

Etymology

1590s, from French esplanade (“clear, level space”), from either Spanish esplanada (explanada), form of esplanar (“to flatten, to make level”) or Italian spianata, form of spianare (of the same meaning), both from Latin explānāre, from which English explain; see also plain (“level area, to flatten”).

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: esplanada — clear space between a citadel and the nearest houses
  • Finnish: esplanadi — clear space between a citadel and the nearest houses
  • French: esplanade — clear space between a citadel and the nearest houses
  • German: Esplanade — clear space between a citadel and the nearest houses
  • Italian: spianata — clear space between a citadel and the nearest houses
  • Polish: esplanada — clear space between a citadel and the nearest houses
  • Russian: эсплана́да (esplanáda) — clear space between a citadel and the nearest houses
  • Finnish: esplanadi — clear space used for public walks