Zone is an area set aside for a specific purpose or with particular characteristics. A school might have different zones: a quiet zone in the library, a play zone on the playground, and a no-parking zone near the entrance. Cities divide land into zones too, designating some areas for houses, others for stores or factories, and still others for parks.

The word also describes being in a state of intense focus. When athletes talk about being in the zone, they mean they're so concentrated that everything feels easy and natural, like a basketball player sinking shot after shot without thinking. Students experience this too when they're so absorbed in a project that hours pass without them noticing.

In sports, zone can mean a defensive strategy where each player guards a specific area rather than following one opponent. A basketball team might play zone defense, with each player responsible for whoever enters their section of the court.

You might hear someone say they're going to zone out, which means the opposite of being in the zone: letting their mind wander and losing focus, perhaps staring blankly during a boring lecture. The verb to zone means to divide something into zones or, informally, to lose concentration.