A country is one of the political units which the world is divided into, covering a particular area of land.
Indonesia is the fifth most populous country in the world.
...that disputed boundary between the two countries.
Young people do move around the country quite a bit these days.
Synonyms: nation, state, land, commonwealth More Synonyms of country
2. singular noun
The people who live in a particular country can be referred to as thecountry.
The country goes to the polls today to elect a new government.
Seventy per cent of this country is opposed to blood sports.
Synonyms: people, community, nation, society More Synonyms of country
3. singular noun
The country consists of places such as farms, open fields, and villages which are away from towns and cities.
...a healthy life in the country.
She was cycling along a country road near Compiègne.
I was a simple country boy from Norfolk.
4. uncountable noun
A particular kind of country is an area of land which has particular characteristics or is connected with a particular well-known person.
Varese Ligure is a small town in mountainous country east of Genoa.
...some of the best walking country in the Sierras.
The Japanese visitors set off in search of Brontë country.
Synonyms: territory, part, land, region More Synonyms of country
5. uncountable noun [usually NOUN noun]
Country music is popular music from the southern United States.
For a long time I just wanted to play country music.
The brilliant young country singer tours her songs about lost love and cigarettes,from March 7.
6.
See across country
7.
See across country
8.
See go to the country
More Synonyms of country
country in British English
(ˈkʌntrɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-tries
1.
a territory distinguished by its people, culture, language, geography, etc
2.
an area of land distinguished by its political autonomy; state
3.
the people of a territory or state
the whole country rebelled
4.
an area associated with a particular person
Burns country
5.
a.
the part of the land that is away from cities or industrial areas; rural districts
b.
(as modifier)
country cottage
c.
(in combination)
a countryman
▶ Related adjective: pastoral, rural
6. short for country music
7. archaic
a particular locality or district
8. up country
9.
one's native land or nation of citizenship
10. the country
11. (modifier)
rough; uncouth; rustic
country manners
12. across country
13. go to the country
14. unknown country
Word origin
C13: from Old French contrée, from Medieval Latin contrāta, literally: that which lies opposite, from Latin contrā opposite
country in American English
(ˈkʌntri)
nounWord forms: pluralˈcountries
1.
an area of land; region
wooded country
2.
the whole land or territory of a nation or state
3.
the people of a nation or state
4.
the land of a person's birth or citizenship
5.
land with farms and small towns; rural region, as distinguished from a city or town
6.
country music
adjective
7.
of, in, or from a rural district
8.
characteristic of or like that of the country; rustic
9. Dialectal
of one's own country; native
Word origin
ME contre < OFr contrée < VL *(regio) contrata, region lying opposite < L contra: see contra-
More idioms containing
country
go to the country
COBUILD Collocations
country
independent country
wine country
Examples of 'country' in a sentence
country
Now they carefully planned their next great moves into the country.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Anything which hurts the country they live in.
The Sun (2017)
Many will pay to pull on their tweed and live the life of a country gent for a day.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The blame lies with that country's government.
The Sun (2016)
So how can you get close to the country's most famous family?
The Sun (2016)
He retained enormous affection for his native Yorkshire where he enjoyed long country walks and recently bought a house.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is one of the refreshing things about life in the country that it crosses age barriers.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You can search by country or region and there are stats galore.
The Sun (2013)
Others have fled the country or moved to other cities.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Heart patients in some areas of the country are suffering because care varies widely between regions.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Music gets you moving and long swims or country walks build up your strength.
The Sun (2014)
One in three had been employed in more than one country.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You could meet where music from many countries fills the streets.
The Sun (2010)
For one country in particular this was disastrous economically.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We wish to establish mutually beneficial relations with all the countries of the world.
Aganbegyan, Abel Inside Perestroika: The Future of the Soviet Economy (1990)
We want to give this country back a bit of pride.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Labour activists see only open country between them and the finishing line.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You cannot get away from your country.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But country life can be really tough.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The agency claims that too few countries choose to search the databases as standard procedure.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
My ex has had many partners since we split and moved across the country more than once.
The Sun (2011)
The country famous for being neutral is seeing its football team struggle to get into first gear at the moment.
The Sun (2010)
They're going to be competing with people from emerging countries.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It would also leave Britain at the mercy of the countries whose territory contained the equipment.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In that country of 4m people they manufacture rugby players.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Critics charged him with acting arbitrarily and setting up the bank as judge and jury of poor countries' governments.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
country
British English: country /ˈkʌntrɪ/ NOUN
nation A country is a part of the world with its own people and laws.
He lives in a different country.
American English: country
Arabic: بَلَد
Brazilian Portuguese: país
Chinese: 国家
Croatian: zemlja
Czech: země
Danish: land nation
Dutch: land natie
European Spanish: país
Finnish: maa valtio
French: pays
German: Land Staat
Greek: χώρα
Italian: nazione
Japanese: 国
Korean: 나라
Norwegian: land
Polish: kraj
European Portuguese: país
Romanian: țară
Russian: страна
Latin American Spanish: país
Swedish: land
Thai: ประเทศ
Turkish: ülke
Ukrainian: країна
Vietnamese: nước quốc gia
British English: country /ˈkʌntrɪ/ NOUN
countryside The country is land that is away from towns and cities. There are farms and woods in the country.
We went for a walk in the country.
American English: country
Arabic: رِيف
Brazilian Portuguese: campo
Chinese: 农村
Croatian: selo
Czech: venkov
Danish: landet
Dutch: platteland
European Spanish: campo
Finnish: maaseutu
French: campagneespace rural
German: Land
Greek: ύπαιθρος
Italian: campagna
Japanese: 田舎
Korean: 나라
Norwegian: landsbygd
Polish: wieś
European Portuguese: campo
Romanian: țară
Russian: сельская местность
Latin American Spanish: campo
Swedish: landet
Thai: ชนบท
Turkish: taşra
Ukrainian: сільська місцевість
Vietnamese: đất nước
All related terms of 'country'
low country
a low-lying region or area, as the coastal plains of the Carolinas and Georgia
New Country
a style of country music that emerged in the late 1980s characterized by a more contemporary sound and down-to-earth rather than sentimental lyrics
old country
the country of origin of an immigrant or an immigrant's ancestors
the country
the outlying area or area furthest from the finish of a sports ground or racecourse
up country
away from the coast or the capital
back country
The back country is an area that is a long way from any city and has very few people living in it.
Black Country
→ the Black Country
country blues
acoustic folk blues with a guitar accompaniment
country-born
born in the country
country-bred
brought up in the country
country club
A country club is a club in the country where you can play sports and attend social events .
country code
a code of good practice recommended to those who use the countryside for recreational purposes
country dance
a type of folk dance in which couples are arranged in sets and perform a series of movements , esp facing one another in a line
country folk
people who live in the country
country-fried
(of meats, esp chicken ) dipped in a mixture of flour and breadcrumbs and deep-fried
country house
A country house is a large, often attractive , house in the country, usually one that is or was owned by a rich or noble family.
country lane
a narrow country road , often bordered by hedges
country life
life in the country
country mile
a long way
country music
a type of 20th-century popular music based on White folk music of the southeastern US
country park
an area of countryside , usually not less than 10 hectares , set aside for public recreation : often funded by a Countryside Commission grant
country risk
the risk associated with an overseas investment due to the conditions prevailing in the country in which it is made
country road
a road in the country
country rock
the rock surrounding a mineral vein or igneous intrusion
country seat
A country seat is a large house with land in the country which is owned by someone who also owns a house in a town.
cross-country
Cross-country is the sport of running, riding, or skiing across open countryside rather than along roads or around a running track .
donor country
a country which provides aid to a developing country
Flow Country
an area of moorland and peat bogs in northern Scotland known for its wildlife , now partly afforested
high country
→ the high country
hill country
(in North Island) elevated pasture land for sheep or cattle
home country
the country a person comes from
host country
a country hosting an event
King Country
→ the King Country
Lucky Country
→ the Lucky Country
North Country
the geographic region formed by Alaska , Yukon , the Northwest Territories , and Nunavut
West Country
→ the West Country
wine country
A country is one of the political units which the world is divided into, covering a particular area of land.
across country
If you travel across country , you travel through country areas, avoiding major roads and towns.
Basque Country
an autonomous region of N Spain , comprising the provinces of Á lava (Araba), Guipúzcoa (Gipuzkoa), and Vizcaya (Bizkaia): inhabited mainly by Basques , who retained virtual autonomy from the 9th to the 19th century. Pop: 1 840 700 (2003 est). Area: about 7250 sq km (2800 sq miles)
Channel Country
→ the Channel Country
cottage country
any lakeside region where many country cottages are located
country bumpkin
an awkward , simple , rustic person
country cottage
a small house in the country , esp one used for holidays
country cousin
If you refer to someone as a country cousin , you think that they are unsophisticated because they come from the country.
country dancing
Country dancing is traditional dancing in which people dance in rows or circles .
country dweller
a person who lives in the country
country kitchen
a large kitchen with ample areas for food preparation and eating
country people
people who live in the country
country singer
a singer of country and western music
country western
→ country music
Chinese translation of 'country'
country
(ˈkʌntrɪ)
n
(c) (= nation) 国(國)家 (guójiā) (个(個), gè)
(= countryside)
the country乡(鄉)下 (xiāngxià) (个(個), gè)
⇒ a healthy life in the country乡下的健康生活 (xiāngxià de jiànkāng shēnghuó)
(c) (= native land) 家乡(鄉) (jiāxiāng) (个(個), gè)
⇒ He loved his country.他热爱自己的家乡。 (Tā rè'ài zìjǐ de jiāxiāng.)
(s) (= population) 全国(國)人民 (quánguó rénmín)
(u) (= area) 地区(區) (dìqū)
⇒ mountainous country山区 (shānqū)
cpd
[music, singer] (also country and western) 西部乡(鄉)村 (xībù xiāngcūn)
in the country在乡(鄉)下 (zài xiāngxià)
All related terms of 'country'
the country
乡(鄉)下 xiāngxià [ 个(個) gè ] ⇒ a healthy life in the country → 乡下的健康生活 xiāngxià de jiànkāng shēnghuó
country house
乡(鄉)间(間)别(別)墅 xiāngjiān biéshù [ 栋 dòng ]
cross-country
( running ) 越野赛(賽)跑 yuèyě sàipǎo
developing country
发(發)展中国(國)家 fāzhǎnzhōng guójiā [ 个(個) gè ]
in the country
在乡(鄉)下 zài xiāngxià
country of origin
祖国(國) zǔguó
member country/state
成员(員)国(國)/州 chéngyuán guó/zhōu
to go cross-country
走小路 zǒu xiǎolù
these flowers are to be found all over the country