Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large, indefinite area of land or space: A part of the Earth's surface or any space that is distinct from others, often defined by physical, political, or cultural characteristics.
   • A specified part of the body or an object: An area of the body or a structure that has a particular function or characteristic.
   • A sphere or domain of activity, thought, or interest: A particular field or area of knowledge, study, or experience.
   • An approximate amount or range: Used prepositionally to indicate a quantity that is close to a specified number.

Examples of Usage

• As a large geographical area:
  • The wine from that region is famous worldwide.
  • Penguins are adapted to live in cold polar regions.
• As a part of the body:
  • The patient felt pain in the lumbar region of the back.
• As a domain or sphere:
  • Her research is in the region of theoretical physics.
  • The discussion moved from facts into the region of pure speculation.
• To indicate an approximate amount (used with 'in the region of'):
  • The repairs will cost in the region of a thousand dollars.
  • The project took in the region of six months to complete.

Advanced Usage

• "In the region of": This is a fixed prepositional phrase used to give an approximate figure or estimate.
  • The attendance was in the region of ten thousand people.
• "The region of [abstract concept]": Used to describe a non-physical area of thought, feeling, or quality.
  • His generosity is in the region of the extraordinary.

Variants and Related Words

• Regional (adjective): Relating to or characteristic of a region.
  • The council makes decisions on regional planning.
• Regionally (adverb): In a way that relates to a region.
  • The product is distributed regionally, not nationally.

Synonyms

• Area: A part of a place or surface.
• Zone: An area with a particular feature or use.
• Territory: An area of land under the jurisdiction of a ruler or state.
• Domain: A specified sphere of activity or knowledge.
• Vicinity: The area near or surrounding a particular place (often used for smaller areas).

Related Phrases

• Lower regions / nether regions: A euphemistic or literary term for hell or the underworld.
  • In the myth, the hero descended to the nether regions.
• Upper regions: A literary term for heaven or the sky.
  • The poet wrote of birds soaring in the upper regions.

Idioms

• In the region of: As mentioned above, this is the primary idiom, meaning "approximately."
  • We are expecting a profit in the region of 20%.

Noun

1. a knowledge domain that you are interested in or are communicating about
   • it was a limited realm of discourse
   • here we enter the region of opinion
   • the realm of the occult
2. the approximate amount of something (usually used prepositionally as in `in the region of')
   • it was going to take in the region of two or three months to finish the job
   • the price is in the neighborhood of $100
3. a large indefinite location on the surface of the Earth
   • penguins inhabit the polar regions
4. a part of an animal that has a special function or is supplied by a given artery or nerve
   • in the abdominal region
5. the extended spatial location of something
   • the farming regions of France
   • religions in all parts of the world
   • regions of outer space