courtyard
gb/kˈɔɹtjˌɑɹd/ us/kˈɔɹtjˌɑɹd/
B1
English
~ 6400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
open space surrounded by buildings
An open space outside, usually with hard ground, that is surrounded by one or more buildings.
Usage pattern:
in the courtyard of [a building]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "courtyard" for any open space next to a house, but a courtyard is usually surrounded or mostly surrounded by walls or buildings. For a general open area at the back of a house, "yard" (American English) or "garden" (British English) is more common. Learners also confuse "courtyard" with "patio"; a patio is mainly a paved sitting area, while a courtyard is a whole enclosed space.
Synonyms
yard (General outdoor area next to a building; not necessarily enclosed by walls.)
|
quadrangle (Often used for square courtyards in schools or colleges, especially in British English.)
|
patio (A paved outdoor sitting area by a house; may not be surrounded by buildings.)
Antonyms
interior (Refers to indoor space inside a building, the opposite of an open outdoor courtyard.)
|
room (An enclosed indoor space with a roof and walls, unlike an open-air courtyard.)
Collocations
inner courtyard
|central courtyard
|palace courtyard
|hotel courtyard
|school courtyard
|courtyard garden
Themes
architecture
|homes
|travel
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- After the ceremony, guests gathered in the courtyard for drinks and photos.
- The apartment building has a small courtyard with benches and a fountain.
- Children were playing football in the school courtyard during the break.
- Our hotel room looked out onto a quiet inner courtyard.
- The palace courtyard was large enough to hold hundreds of people.
Learner examples
- We ate breakfast in the hotel courtyard.
- The children play in the courtyard after school.
- There is a big tree in the middle of the courtyard.
- My window is above the courtyard of the building.
- People sit in the courtyard and talk in the evening.
Grammar
Dictionary form
courtyard
IPA
GB/kˈɔɹtjˌɑɹd/
US/kˈɔɹtjˌɑɹd/
Syllables & stress
court - yard (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (court)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: courtyard
- Plural: courtyards
Word family
Expressions
central courtyard
1/sˈɛntɹəl kˈɔɹtjˌɑɹd/
fixed phrase
main courtyard in the middle
The main courtyard in the middle of a building or group of buildings.
Examples
- All the classrooms open onto a large central courtyard.
- The museum’s central courtyard is used for concerts in the summer.
courtyard garden
1/kˈɔɹtjˌɑɹd ɡˈɑɹdən/
fixed phrase
garden inside a courtyard
A garden that is inside a courtyard, often with plants, flowers, or a small fountain.
Examples
- The house has a beautiful courtyard garden with roses and a small pond.
- Guests can relax in the quiet courtyard garden behind the café.