Definition of zone

The word "zone" has its roots in ancient Greek and Latin. In Greek, the word "ζώνη" (zōnē) referred to a girdle or belt, which was later adopted into Latin as "zona." This Latin term referred to a belt or circuit, and over time, it evolved to mean a region or district. The modern English word "zone" was first used in the 14th century to describe a belt or circuit of land, often a region or district divided by boundaries. It was later applied to other contexts, such as geography (e.g., time zones) and sports (e.g., playing zones). The term has since been adapted and modified to fit various domains, including ecology (e.g., ecoclimatic zones), music (e.g., musical zones), and even humor (e.g., joke zones). Throughout its development, the concept of "zones" has remained centered around the idea of boundaries, regions, and the organization of space.