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Countries - 2 dictionary results

coun⋅try

  [kuhn-tree] noun, plural -tries, adjective
Use Countries in a Sentence
–noun
1. a state or nation: What European countries have you visited?
2. the territory of a nation.
3. the people of a district, state, or nation: The whole country backed the president in his decision.
4. the land of one's birth or citizenship.
5. rural districts, including farmland, parkland, and other sparsely populated areas, as opposed to cities or towns: Many city dwellers like to spend their vacations in the country.
6. any considerable territory demarcated by topographical conditions, by a distinctive population, etc.: mountainous country; the Amish country of Pennsylvania.
7. a tract of land considered apart from any geographical or political limits; region; district.
8. the public.
9. Law. the public at large, as represented by a jury.
10. country music.
–adjective
11. of, from, or characteristic of the country; rural: a winding country road.
12. of, pertaining to, or associated with country music: That Nashville station plays country records all day long.
13. rude; unpolished; rustic: country manners.
14. of, from, or pertaining to a particular country.
15. Obsolete. of one's own country.
—Idioms
16. go to the country, British. to dissolve a Parliament that has cast a majority vote disagreeing with the prime minister and cabinet and to call for the election of a new House of Commons. Also, appeal to the country.
17. put oneself upon the or one's country, Law. to present one's cause formally before a jury.
Origin:
1200–50; ME cuntree < AF, OF < VL *(regiō) contrāta terrain opposite the viewer, equiv. to L contr(ā) counter 3 + -āta, fem. of -ātus -ate 1 ; cf. G Gegend region, deriv. of gegen against
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Countries
coun·try   (kŭn'trē)   
n.   pl. coun·tries
    1. A nation or state.
    2. The territory of a nation or state; land.
    3. The people of a nation or state; populace: The whole country will profit from the new economic reforms.
  2. The land of a person's birth or citizenship: Foreign travel is restricted in his country.
  3. A region, territory, or large tract of land distinguishable by features of topography, biology, or culture: hill country; Bible country.
  4. An area or expanse outside cities and towns; a rural area: a vacation in the country.
  5. Law A jury.
  6. Informal Country music.
adj.  
  1. Of, relating to, or typical of the country: a country road; country cooking.
  2. Of or relating to country music.

[Middle English countre, from Old French contree, from Vulgar Latin *(terra) contrāta, (land) opposite, before, from Latin contrā, opposite; see kom in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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