zone

n. & v.
—n.
1 an area having particular features, properties, purpose, or use (danger zone; erogenous zone; smokeless zone).
2 any well-defined region of more or less beltlike form.
3 a an area between two exact or approximate concentric circles. b a part of the surface of a sphere enclosed between two parallel planes, or of a cone or cylinder etc., between such planes cutting it perpendicularly to the axis.
4 (in full time zone) a range of longitudes where a common standard time is used.
5 Geol. etc. a range between specified limits of depth, height, etc., esp. a section of strata distinguished by characteristic fossils.
6 Geog. any of five divisions of the earth bounded by circles parallel to the equator (see FRIGID, TEMPERATE, TORRID).
7 an encircling band or stripe distinguishable in colour, texture, or character from the rest of the object encircled.
8 archaic a belt or girdle worn round the body.
—v.tr.
1 encircle as or with a zone.
2 arrange or distribute by zones.
3 assign as or to a particular area.
Derivatives:
zonal adj. zoning n. (in sense 3 of v.).
Etymology: F zone or L zona girdle f. Gk zone