Meaning & use
large tract of land
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Meanings
phrasecountableformal
a very big, wide area of ground, especially one used for farming, building, or nature.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a large tract of land' or 'large tracts of land'. The word 'tract' carries the meaning of area; 'of land' tells you what kind.
Patterns
- a large tract of land
- large tracts of land
- a large tract of land in/around something
The family bought a large tract of land in the valley and built a farm on it.
The company owns large tracts of land across the northern region.
A large tract of land near the river has been protected as a wildlife reserve.
phrasecountableformalbusiness
a big area of ground considered as a single piece of property, often for sale or development.
Grammar: Used mainly in business, legal, or real-estate contexts. You can say 'a large tract of land was sold' or 'they divided the tract into smaller lots'.
Patterns
- sell a large tract of land
- develop a large tract of land
- divide a large tract of land into something
The developer bought a large tract of land on the edge of town.
They divided the large tract of land into smaller building plots.
A large tract of land was sold at auction last week.
Common combinations
- a large tract of land
- He inherited a large tract of land from his grandfather.
- large tracts of land
- Large tracts of land in the west remain undeveloped.
- own a large tract of land
- The university owns a large tract of land outside the city.
- a vast tract of land
- A vast tract of land stretched out before us.
Synonyms and how they differ
- large area of land
- More general and much more common in everyday English; it can be used for any size, while 'large tract of land' suggests a formal, measured piece of property.
- estate
- Often means a large area of land owned by one person or family, especially in the countryside, and it can also include the buildings on it.
- plot
- Usually a smaller, clearly marked piece of land, often for building one house, so it is not a synonym for a very large area.
Word family
- tract noun
- A large area of land, or a short written work on a religious or political subject.
Commonly confused: large tract of land or track?
large tract of land vs track
A 'track' is a narrow path or a road, or a mark left by feet or wheels. 'Tract' means an area of land, so 'a large track of land' is wrong.
Practice
The company bought a large ______ of land near the coast.
Choose one answer.
'Tract' is the correct word for a large area of land. 'Track' means a path or mark, 'trace' means a small sign or mark, and 'trick' means a clever act or joke, so none of them fits the phrase 'a large ___ of land'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “large tract of land”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.