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Yard (land)

language culture Maturity 11-13 Next article →

A yard is a piece of land right next to a building.

Typical suburban backyard
Typical suburban backyard

It can be an open space or a closed area. Many people use yards for fun or for work. In North America, a yard is often a grassy area for playing. A front yard sits in front of a house. A backyard sits at the back of a house.

Giesen AmThie1
Giesen AmThie1

Backyards are often more private places for families.

How a yard looks depends on where you live. In big cities, yards are often very small. Some city houses do not have a yard at all. In the suburbs, yards are much larger. A large yard might have a patio for sitting. It could also have a swimming pool or a basketball court.

Portable yards
Portable yards

These big spaces give people room to move and play.

The word yard has a very old history. It comes from many old languages like Old English and Old Norse. One old word was "geard," which meant a fence or a home. Other old words meant an enclosure or a courtyard. Some people think it comes from a root meaning to enclose. This is also how we get the word garden. It shows how humans have always used fences to mark their space.

Different kinds of yards have special names. A junkyard is a place for old things. A railyard is used for trains. A graveyard is a place for the dead. In Britain, people use "yard" for hard ground near work. You might see a timberyard or a dockyard.

Cattle sale 1
Cattle sale 1

These areas are often used for business or industry.

Yards are also very important on farms. A stockyard or a cattleyard is used for farm animals. In Australia, farmers use special portable yards. These are made of steel panels that can be moved. This helps farmers manage their livestock more easily. Whether for a home or a farm, a yard is a useful space. It helps people organize the land around their buildings.

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Typical suburban backyard.jpg
Typical suburban backyard.jpg
File:Giesen AmThie1.jpg
Giesen AmThie1.jpg
File:Portable yards.JPG
Portable yards.JPG
File:Cattle sale 1.JPG
Cattle sale 1.JPG
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