space
space
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for the word "space" is /speɪs/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
speɪs: This is a single-syllable word.
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative (like the 's' in 'sun')
/p/ - voiceless bilabial stop (like the 'p' in 'pin')
/eɪ/ - diphthong (like the 'a' in 'face' or 'say')
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative (like the 's' in 'sun')
Word Form Variations
space (singular noun)
spaces (plural noun)
spaced (past tense and past participle verb)
spacing (present participle/gerund verb)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
Definition: A continuous area or volume that is free, available, or unoccupied. This can refer to physical space, like the room in a house, or more abstract space, like mental space.
Synonyms: area, volume, expanse, room, capacity, scope, extent, territory, domain
Antonyms: confinement, restriction, limitation, compression
Definition: The region beyond the Earth's atmosphere; outer space.
Synonyms: cosmos, universe, heavens, void, ether
Antonyms: Earth, atmosphere, terrestrial
Definition: An interval of time.
Synonyms: period, duration, span, interval, gap, while
Antonyms: continuity, uninterrupted sequence
Definition: The distance between two points or objects.
Synonyms: gap, interval, separation, distance, margin
Antonyms: proximity, closeness, adjacency, contiguity
Verb:
Definition: To arrange or position things at intervals; to leave gaps between.
Synonyms: arrange, position, distribute, allocate, separate, intersperse
Antonyms: crowd, compress, cram, pack, concentrate
Definition: To move or travel through space. (Less common usage)
Synonyms: traverse, navigate, journey, transit
Antonyms: remain, stay, stagnate
Adjective: (Less common as a standalone adjective)
Definition: Relating to or characteristic of outer space. (Often used in compound adjectives like "space-age")
Synonyms: cosmic, celestial, extraterrestrial, interstellar
Antonyms: terrestrial, earthly
Adverb: (Rare as a standalone adverb)
While "space" isn't commonly used as a standalone adverb, it can be part of adverbial phrases, such as "in space" or "through space," which modify verbs or adjectives by indicating location or manner. These phrases don't have direct antonyms in the same way as single-word adverbs, but you could consider contrasting them with phrases like "on Earth," "locally," or "within a limited area."
Examples of Use
Noun:
Physical Space: "The apartment had ample space for a growing family." (General public discourse)
Outer Space: "The James Webb Space Telescope is providing breathtaking images of deep space." (News article - e.g., The New York Times, Space.com)
Mental Space: "I need some space to think about this decision." (General public discourse)
Time Interval: "There was a noticeable space between the two performances." (Book review - e.g., Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly)
Digital Space: "The website offers limited space for uploading files." (Online forum - e.g., Reddit, Stack Overflow)
Social Space: "The park serves as a community space for gatherings and events." (Local newspaper article)
Conceptual Space: "The artist explores the space between reality and imagination." (Art exhibition catalog)
Verb:
Arranging: "Please space the chairs evenly around the table." (General public discourse)
Digital Spacing: "The software allows you to space the letters and lines precisely." (Software manual)
Moving Through: "The spacecraft spaced through the asteroid belt." (Science fiction novel)
Adjective (in compound forms):
"The space-age design of the building was truly innovative." (Architecture magazine)
"The space-themed party was a hit with the children." (Parenting blog)
Examples across different media:
Books: "2001: A Space Odyssey" (Arthur C. Clarke) - Title uses "space" in the context of outer space.
Movies: "Space Odyssey", "The Martian", "Interstellar"- All use "space" in relation to outer space exploration.
Music: "Space Oddity" (David Bowie) - Song title and lyrics explore themes of space travel.
Video Games: "Mass Effect", "No Man's Sky" - Games often feature space exploration as a central theme.
News: Articles about space exploration, astronomy, and technology frequently use the word "space."
Social Media: Discussions about current events, personal matters, or anything in between can use "space" metaphorically (e.g., "I need some space from social media").
These examples demonstrate the versatility of the word "space" and its frequent use in various forms and contexts. It's a word that is deeply ingrained in our language and understanding of the world around us, both physically and conceptually.
10 Famous Quotes Using Space
"A room is not a room without natural light and space to breathe."— Le Corbusier
"The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves, in space."— Carl Jung
"Design is as much about empty space as it is about what fills it."— Jonathan Ive
"Space is the breath of art." — Frank Lloyd Wright
"Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is." — Douglas Adams
"We are limited only by our imagination and our will to act. The path to space will forever remain open." — Ronald Reagan
"Exploration of space will go ahead, whether we join in it or not." — John F. Kennedy
"Sometimes you just need space—space to think, space to breathe, space to be." — Anonymous
"You need to give people space to grow, to be themselves, to discover who they are."— Oprah Winfrey
"In the space between yes and no, there’s a lifetime. It’s the difference between the path you walk and the one you leave behind." — Jeanette Winterson
Etymology
"Space" ultimately comes from the Latin word spatium. Think of spatium as meaning "room," "area," or "distance." This Latin root gives us a good clue to the word's core meaning, which has stayed pretty consistent over time.
The first recorded use of "space" in English was sometime in the 1300s. Back then, it already had a very similar meaning to what we understand today: an area or extent of something, whether it was the space between objects or the expanse of the sky.
So, imagine our ancestors in the 1300s. They might have used "space" to talk about the space between trees in a forest, the space inside a room, or even the vast space of the heavens. The idea of something having extent, taking up room, or existing between things was already there.
Over the centuries, the word "space" has broadened its meaning a bit. We now use it for outer space, of course, but also for more abstract ideas like "mental space" or "breathing space." We talk about "spacing" things out, meaning to create intervals. But the fundamental idea of an area, volume, or interval remains. It's a testament to how language evolves, yet keeps core meanings intact.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Space
Common Phrases and Collocations:
Outer space: The region beyond Earth's atmosphere.
Inner space: Often refers to one's thoughts, feelings, or mental state.
Personal space: The physical area immediately surrounding someone, into which intrusion is felt as uncomfortable.
Breathing space: Time or opportunity to relax or consider matters.
Head space: Mental or emotional capacity.
White space: Blank space on a page or design.
Living space: The area within a dwelling.
Public space: An area accessible to everyone.
Space bar: The key on a keyboard used to create spaces between characters.
Space station: A large spacecraft orbiting Earth, designed for human habitation and scientific research.
Space shuttle: A reusable spacecraft designed to travel to and from space.
Space race: The competition between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War to achieve milestones in space exploration.
Phrases with a more figurative or idiomatic flavor:
Give someone space: To allow someone privacy or time alone.
Take up space: To occupy physical or metaphorical space; to be prominent or important.
Space out: To become distracted or daydream.
Space is the place: A phrase suggesting a desire to escape or find something better (often associated with Sun Ra).
Why fewer idioms?
The relative lack of idioms with "space" likely stems from its primary literal meaning. It's a concrete concept, making it less suitable for the kind of metaphorical leaps that create idioms. Many idioms arise from more abstract or emotionally charged words.
Substituting with synonyms for similar effect:
Since "space" doesn't generate many idioms itself, we can look at synonyms and related concepts for idiomatic expressions that capture some of the same ideas:
Instead of an idiom about needing "space," you could use one about needing "room" (e.g., "room to breathe").
Idioms about "distance" or "separation" can sometimes convey a similar meaning to needing space (e.g., "keep your distance").
Phrases about "freedom" or "liberty" can also relate to the idea of having space (e.g., "free rein").
While "space" itself may not be an idiom goldmine, its related concepts offer plenty of figurative language to express similar ideas.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of space from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
