world

world
noun
1》 (the world) the earth with all its countries and peoples.
    ↘all of the people on the earth.
    ↘(one's world) one's life and activities.
2》 a region or group of countries: the English-speaking world.
    ↘all that belongs to a particular historical period or sphere of activity: the world of British theatre.
3》 (the world) human and social interaction.
    ↘secular or material matters as opposed to spiritual ones.
    ↘a stage of human life, either mortal or after death.
4》 another planet like the earth.
Phrases
the best of both (or all possible) worlds the benefits of widely differing situations, enjoyed at the same time.
—— in the world used to express astonishment or disbelief in questions: What in the word are they doing?
man (or woman) of the world a person who is experienced in the ways of sophisticated society.
not do something for the world not do something whatever the inducement.
out of this world informal extremely enjoyable or impressive.
think the world of have a very high regard for.
the world and his wife Brit. informal everybody.
the world, the flesh, and the devil all forms of temptation to sin.
a (or the) world of a very great deal of.
Origin
OE w(e)oruld, from a Gmc compound meaning 'age of man'.

English new terms dictionary. 2014.

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  • world — [ wɜrld ] noun *** 1. ) singular society in general, in all countries: We want to guarantee our children a safer world. all over the world/throughout the world: The same problems are faced by children throughout the world. the whole world: Since… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • World — World, n. [OE. world, werld, weorld, weoreld, AS. weorold, worold; akin to OS. werold, D. wereld, OHG. weralt, worolt, werolt, werlt, G. welt, Icel. ver[ o]ld, Sw. verld, Dan. verden; properly, the age of man, lifetime, humanity; AS. wer a man +… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • world — ► NOUN 1) (the world) the earth with all its countries and peoples. 2) a region or group of countries: the English speaking world. 3) all that belongs to a particular period or sphere of activity: the theatre world. 4) (one s world) a person s… …   English terms dictionary

  • world — [wʉrld] n. [ME < OE werold, world, humanity, long time, akin to OHG weralt < early WGmc comp. < * wera , man (see WEREWOLF) + * alth , an age, mankind (for IE base see OLD): basic sense “the age of man”] 1. a) the planet earth b) the… …   English World dictionary

  • world — O.E. woruld, worold human existence, the affairs of life, also the human race, mankind, a word peculiar to Germanic languages (Cf. O.S. werold, O.Fris. warld, Du. wereld, O.N. verold, O.H.G. weralt, Ger. Welt), with a literal sense of age of man …   Etymology dictionary

  • world — UK US /wɜːld/ noun [C, usually singular] ► a particular area of activity: »Our world of work is changing rapidly. »the world of advertising/the internet »the business/corporate world …   Financial and business terms

  • world — [n1] planet, globe cosmos, creation, earth, heavenly body, macrocosm, microcosm, nature, sphere, star, terrene, universe; concepts 511,770 world [n2] class of existing beings class, division, everybody, everyone, group, humanity, humankind, human …   New thesaurus

  • world|ly — «WURLD lee», adjective, li|er, li|est, adverb. –adj. 1. of this world; not of heaven: »worldly wealth, worldly knowledge, worldly ambition. SYNONYM(S): mundane. See syn. under earthly. (Cf. ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • world — universe, *earth, cosmos, macrocosm …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • world — world1 W1S1 [wə:ld US wə:rld] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(our planet/everyone on it)¦ 2 in the world 3¦(the society we live in)¦ 4¦(group of countries )¦ 5¦(time in history)¦ 6¦(somebody s life and experiences)¦ 7¦(area of activity/work)¦… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • world — /werrld/, n. 1. the earth or globe, considered as a planet. 2. (often cap.) a particular division of the earth: the Western world. 3. the earth or a part of it, with its inhabitants, affairs, etc., during a particular period: the ancient world. 4 …   Universalium

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