school-yard

Children play a lively game of tag in the school-yard during recess.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • An outdoor area or playground attached to a school, typically used by students for recreation, sports, or socializing during breaks.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The children ran across the school-yard during recess. (The outdoor area of the school where students play.)
  • A new climbing structure was installed in the school-yard for younger students. (The playground space belonging to the school.)

Advanced Usage

• "school-yard bully": a student who intimidates or harasses others in the school-yard setting.

  • The school-yard bully was finally disciplined by the principal. (A student who picks on others in the school playground.)

• "school-yard rules": informal or unwritten codes of behavior common among children in a school-yard.

  • In the school-yard, the rules are often different from those in the classroom. (The social norms of the playground.)

Variants and Related Words

• Schoolyard (n): a variant spelling of "school-yard" (often written as one word).

  • The schoolyard was filled with laughter during the lunch break. (The same as school-yard.)

• Schoolyard game (n): a game played in the school-yard, such as tag or hopscotch.

  • Hopscotch is a classic schoolyard game. (A game typical of the school playground.)

Synonyms

• Playground: an outdoor area for children to play, especially at a school.
• School grounds: the entire area around a school, including the yard and fields.

Related Idioms

• "King of the school-yard": a phrase describing a student who is dominant or admired in the school-yard.

  • He was the king of the school-yard, always leading the games. (The most popular or powerful child in the playground.)

• "School-yard politics": informal social maneuvering or power struggles among students in the school-yard.

  • The school-yard politics were more intense than the classroom lessons. (The social dynamics and rivalries in the playground.)