An open square in a city, especially in Italy, typically surrounded by buildings and serving as a public gathering place.
From Italian 'piazza', derived from Latin 'platea' meaning 'broad street' or 'courtyard', which comes from Greek 'plateia' (broad way). The word maintained its Italian form when adopted into English, reflecting the cultural significance of Italian urban design.
Italian piazzas are masterpieces of social architecture - they're designed not just as empty spaces but as outdoor living rooms for entire communities. The most famous, like Rome's Piazza Navona or Venice's Piazza San Marco, have been the heartbeat of their cities for centuries, proving that good public spaces are timeless.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.