zone definition

A logical group of network devices on AppleTalk.

(01 Mar 1994)

1. A girdle; a cincture. "An embroidered zone surrounds her waist." (Dryden) "Loose were her tresses seen, her zone unbound." (Collins)

2. <geography> One of the five great divisions of the earth, with respect to latitude and temperature.

The zones are five: the torrid zone, extending from tropic to tropic 46 deg 56 min, or 23 deg 28 min on each side of the equator; two temperate or variable zones, situated between the tropics and the polar circles; and two frigid zones, situated between the polar circles and the poles. "Commerce . . . Defies every wind, outrides every tempest, and invades." (Bancroft)

3. <mathematics> The portion of the surface of a sphere included between two parallel planes; the portion of a surface of revolution included between two planes perpendicular to the axis.

4. A band or stripe extending around a body. A band or area of growth encircling anything; as, a zone of evergreens on a mountain; the zone of animal or vegetable life in the ocean around an island or a continent; the Alpine zone, that part of mountains which is above the limit of tree growth.

5. <chemistry> A series of planes having mutually parallel intersections.

6. Circuit; circumference. Abyssal zone. To girdle; to encircle.

<physics> A straight line passing through the center of a crystal, to which all the planes of a given zone are parallel.

Origin: F. Zone, L. Zona, Gr.; akin to to gird, Lith. Jsta to gird, Zend yah.