An area is a 'space' allocated for a specific thing/activity (a dining area, children area...) it can also be the 'scope' (or 'range') for, say, a study; in the more general sense it is the 'measure of a surface'. A zone is an area having particular features, purpose, usage; a space between two areas/planes/limits, such as a time-zone, a war-zone (between set limits), an set area between depths, heights. http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=527122 I hope that answers you question.