PARK | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

Middle English: from Old French parc, from medieval Latin parricus, of Germanic origin; related to German Pferch ‘pen, fold’, also to paddock. The word was originally a legal term designating land held by royal grant for keeping game animals: this was enclosed and therefore distinct from a forest or chase, and (also unlike a forest) had no special laws or officers. A military sense ‘space occupied by artillery, wagons, stores, etc., in an encampment’ (late 17th century) is the origin of the verb sense (mid 19th century) and of park (sense 2 of the noun) (early 20th century)

a large public garden or area of land used for recreation

public area of land for recreation

• a walk round the park
• a country park

an area devoted to a specified purpose

area for specified purpose

• an industrial park

(in a car with automatic transmission) the position of the gear selector in which the gears are locked, preventing the vehicle's movement.

position of automatic car's gear selector

bring (a vehicle that one is driving) to a halt and leave it temporarily, typically in a car park or by the side of the road

leave car temporarily

• he parked his car outside her house
• she couldn't find anywhere to park

leave (something) in a convenient place until required

leave something until required

• come on in, and park your bag by the door

postpone consideration of (an idea or plan) until a later date

postpone consideration of idea

• could I suggest we park that suggestion for the moment?