noun

• (mathematics) A measure of the extent of a surface; it is measured in square units.
  "It is about 4.5 million square kilometers in area and holds the world’s third largest collection of ice after Antarctica and Greenland."
• (British) An open space, below ground level, giving access to the basement of a house, and typically separated from the pavement by railings.
  "A boy seized it, whom she bribed with a shilling to relinquish his prize, which she was taking home, when it escaped from her hand, and fell down the area of a house."
• (soccer) Penalty box; penalty area.
  "Bendtner's goal-bound shot was well saved by goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi but fell to Arsahvin on the edge of the area and the Russian swivelled, shaped his body and angled a sumptuous volley into the corner."
• (slang) Genitals.
  "But what do I do when the third one runs at me with his bike helmet on? I got no more hands to protect my area!"