Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large estate or plantation in a Spanish-speaking country, especially in Latin America: Historically, a "hacienda" was a large landed estate used for agriculture, livestock, or mining, often functioning as a self-sufficient community.
   • The main house or mansion on such an estate: This refers to the large, often impressive residence of the estate's owner.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The old hacienda in the valley has been converted into a luxury hotel.
  • They lived in the hacienda while managing the vast ranch lands.

Advanced Usage

• Historical and Economic Context: The term "hacienda" often carries historical connotations related to colonial landholding systems in the Americas, where it represented a center of economic and social power.
  • The study focused on the role of the hacienda in the colonial economy.

Variants and Related Words

• Hacendado (noun): The owner or master of a hacienda.
  • The hacendado was responsible for all the workers on the estate.

Synonyms

• Estate: A large area of land owned by one person or organization.
• Plantation: A large farm, especially in a tropical or subtropical country, where crops are grown for sale.
• Ranch: A large farm for raising animals, especially in North America.

Idioms

Noun

1. the main house on a ranch or large estate
2. a large estate in Spanish-speaking countries