land use

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The way land is used, especially for farming, housing, industry, or parks.

   Grammar: Usually uncountable: land use, not "a land use." But the plural "land uses" is used when talking about different categories.

   Patterns

   • land use in a place
   • change land use
   • land use planning

   The map shows land use in the valley over the last fifty years.

   New rules will limit land use near the river.

   Researchers study how land use affects water quality.

2. 2nouncountable

   A particular category or type of use of land, such as farming or housing.

   Grammar: Countable when you mean one category among several: "Farming is the main land use here."

   Patterns

   • a land use
   • different land uses
   • the main land use

   Farming is the main land use in this region.

   The council lists housing, industry, and recreation as separate land uses.

   Some land uses, such as heavy industry, are not allowed near schools.

Word forms

Common combinations

land use planning

Land use planning decides where new houses can be built.

change in land use

The change in land use from forest to farm was rapid.

agricultural land use

Agricultural land use covers most of the valley.

land use map

The land use map uses different colors for each category.

sustainable land use

Sustainable land use protects soil and wildlife.

Synonyms and how they differ

land management

Focuses on how land is cared for and controlled, not just what it is used for.

zoning

A legal system that says what land use is allowed in each area; narrower and more official.

Word family

land noun

The surface of the earth, especially as property or territory.

use noun

The act of using something or the purpose it serves.

Commonly confused: land use or landscape?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “land use”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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