[pat-ee-oh, pah-tee-oh] 
| 1. | an area, usually paved, adjoining a house and used as an area for outdoor lounging, dining, etc. |
| 2. | a courtyard, esp. of a house, enclosed by low buildings or walls. |
| pat·i·o (pāt'ē-ō', pä'tē-ō') n. pl. pat·i·os
[Spanish, from Old Spanish, possibly from Old Provençal patu, pati, pasture, perhaps from Latin pactum, agreement; see pact.] |