Countries

[kuhn-tree] /ˈkʌn tri/

noun, plural countries.
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.
.
adjective
11.
of, from, or characteristic of the country; rural:
a winding country road.
12.
of, relating to, or associated with :
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 / one’s country, Law. to present one’s cause formally before a jury.
/ˈkʌntrɪ/
noun (pl) -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.

related adjective pastoral rural
6.
short for country music
7.
(archaic) a particular locality or district
8.
up country, away from the coast or the capital
9.
one’s native land or nation of citizenship
10.
(Brit, informal) the country, the outlying area or area furthest from the finish of a sports ground or racecourse
11.
(modifier) rough; uncouth; rustic: country manners
12.
across country, not keeping to roads, etc
13.
(mainly Brit) go to the country, appeal to the country, to dissolve Parliament and hold an election
14.
unknown country, an unfamiliar topic, place, matter, etc
n.

mid-13c., “district, native land,” from Old French contree, from Vulgar Latin *(terra) contrata “(land) lying opposite,” or “(land) spread before one,” from Latin contra “opposite, against” (see contra-). Sense narrowed 1520s to rural areas, as opposed to cities. Replaced Old English land. As an adjective from late 14c. First record of country-and-western music style is from 1942. Country club first recorded 1886. Country mile “a long way” is from 1915, American English.

adjective

Quite competent; reliable: He’s a prettygood country ball player; gets his pitches over the plate •The phrase is meant as moderate yet distinct praise of a person who might not be as spectacular as a big-city performer

Related Terms

another country heard from