n. [ OE. space, F. espace, from L. spatium space; cf. Gr. spa^n to draw, to tear; perh. akin to E. span. Cf. Expatiate. ] 1. Extension, considered independently of anything which it may contain; that which makes extended objects conceivable and possible. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pure space is capable neither of resistance nor motion. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Place, having more or less extension; room. [ 1913 Webster ]

They gave him chase, and hunted him as hare;
Long had he no space to dwell [ in ]. R. of Brunne. [ 1913 Webster ]

While I have time and space. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A quantity or portion of extension; distance from one thing to another; an interval between any two or more objects; as, the space between two stars or two hills; the sound was heard for the space of a mile. [ 1913 Webster ]

Put a space betwixt drove and drove. Gen. xxxii. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Quantity of time; an interval between two points of time; duration; time. “Grace God gave him here, this land to keep long space.” R. of brunne. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nine times the space that measures day and night. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

God may defer his judgments for a time, and give a people a longer space of repentance. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A short time; a while. [ R. ] “To stay your deadly strife a space.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Walk; track; path; course. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

This ilke [ same ] monk let old things pace,
And held after the new world the space. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Print.) (a) A small piece of metal cast lower than a face type, so as not to receive the ink in printing, -- used to separate words or letters. (b) The distance or interval between words or letters in the lines, or between lines, as in books, on a computer screen, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Spaces are of different thicknesses to enable the compositor to arrange the words at equal distances from each other in the same line. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Mus.) One of the intervals, or open places, between the lines of the staff. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. that portion of the universe outside the earth or its atmosphere; -- called also outer space. [ PJC ]

Absolute space,
Euclidian space, etc. See under Absolute, Euclidian, etc. --
deep space, the part of outer space which is beyond the limits of the solar system. --
Space line (Print.), a thin piece of metal used by printers to open the lines of type to a regular distance from each other, and for other purposes; a lead. Hansard. --
Space rule (Print.), a fine, thin, short metal rule of the same height as the type, used in printing short lines in tabular matter. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Cf. OF. espacier, L. spatiari. See Space, n. ] To walk; to rove; to roam. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

And loved in forests wild to space. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spaced p. pr. & vb. n. Spacong ] [ Cf. F. espacer. See Space, n. ] (Print.) To arrange or adjust the spaces in or between; as, to space words, lines, or letters. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the time during which humans engaged in space exploration; -- generally considered as beginning on October 4, 1957 when the Soviet Union placed the first artificial satellite into orbit around the earth. [ PJC ]

n. a person who appears disconnected from reality, or living in his own world; -- sometimes used of people who are under the influence of mind-altering drugs. [ derogatory ] [ PJC ]

n. a vehicle capable of travelling in or into outer space; at present, all such vehicles are powered by rocket engine. [ PJC ]

n. the process or event in which vehicles travel into outer space. [ PJC ]

a. Wide; extensive. Sandys. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a portable heating device used for warming the air of a single room; -- it may be electrical or use a combustible fuel. [ PJC ]

{ or }. (Mach., Computers) A bar or key, in a typewriter, typesetting machine, or other keyboard (as a computer keyboard), used to insert a space between letters. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]