nationna‧tion /ˈneɪʃən/ ●●● S3 W2 noun [countable] 
the president’s radio broadcast to the nation an independent nation the world’s leading industrial nations► see thesaurus at country2a large group of people of the same race and language: the Cherokee nationCOLLOCATIONSadjectivesa great/powerful nation· The United States is the most powerful nation in the world.an independent/sovereign nation (=one that rules itself, rather than being run by another country)· Countries that were once colonies of Britain are now independent nations.an industrial/industrialized nation· The rich industrial nations dominate the global economy.a developed/advanced nation (=one that has many industries)· In the developed nations, many students go on to university.a developing/emerging nation (=one that is starting to have more industry)· Food shortages are often a problem in developing nations.a rich/wealthy nation· Most tourists come from the wealthy nations of the world.a poor nation· The high cost of medicines in poor nations prevents many citizens from receiving health care.verbslead a nation· He led the nation out of a depression and into a period of growth and prosperity.face a nation· There are many problems facing our nation.unite a nation (=make everyone in a country agree)· The crisis seemed to unite the nation.divide a nation (=make people in a nation disagree)· The war has divided the nation.shock a nation (=make everyone in a nation feel shocked)· This terrible crime has shocked the whole nation.
WORD ORIGINnation
Origin:
1200-1300 French, Latin natio, from natus, past participle of nasci ‘to be born’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- industrialized nations
- Japan has become one of the richest nations in the world.
- Representatives from the world's leading industrial nations will meet in Geneva.
- The President's speech to the nation lasted about ten minutes.
- We are a nation of both great wealth and terrible poverty.
- But this cautious, adroit, enigmatic leader seemed for long to be very much what the nation and the times required.
- Earlier maps had underestimated the distances to other continents and exaggerated the outlines of individual nations.
- For a host of reasons, the nation today has much for which to be thankful.
- Now, with the morning Times on breakfast tables across the nation, the news was out.
- Statistics show that there are three million women in this nation supporting themselves in the crowded cities of the East.
- The possibility of resistance lay in an appeal to the sovereign nation in the form of the mob.
THESAURUS
an area of land controlled by its own government, president, king etc: · Thailand is a beautiful country.· Which country would you most like to visit?
a country, considered especially in relation to its people and its political and economic structure: · The events shocked the whole nation.· The US is the most powerful nation in the world.· Leaders of the world’s major industrialized nations attended the meeting.
a country considered as a political organization with its own government: · They believe that Scotland should be an independent sovereign state.· Most European states joined the Council of Europe.
a country that is very strong and important: · a meeting of the great powers· Britain is still a world power.
one of the most powerful countries in the world: · During the Cuban Missile Crisis there was a real danger of conflict between the two world superpowers.
literary a country – used in stories: · He told them about his journeys to foreign lands.· a traveller from a far-off land
one of the main groups of people in the world, who have the same colour of skin and other physical features: · Everybody should be treated equally regardless of their race or sex.· race relations (=the relationship between people of different races)
a country and its people, or a group of people with the same history and language: · Japan has become one of the richest nations in the world.· Our dream is for a united Arab nation.
the people who belong to a particular country, race, or area. The plural of this meaning of people is peoples: · the American people· the native peoples of the islands
a group of people in a country who are the same race, with the same traditional way of life and the same leader: · a tribe in Papua New Guinea· Bedouin tribes
a group of people of the same race, nation, or tribe: · Within Namibia there are more than a dozen different ethnic groups.· the needs of minority ethnic groups
Longman Language Activatora country a separate independent area of land whose people have their own government, president, king etc: · Brazil is one of the biggest countries in the world.· The northeast of the country will experience heavy rainfall and high winds.· Most people in this country are worried about the economy.all over/all around the country: · Riots and demonstrations broke out all over the country after the assassination of Martin Luther King.
a country considered especially in relation to its people and its social and economic conditions and structures: · Japan has become one of the richest nations in the world.· Representatives from the world's leading industrial nations will meet in Geneva.nation of: · We are a nation of both great wealth and terrible poverty.
a country considered especially as a political unit that has a particular type of political organization: · In 1830, Greece became an independent state.· The state of Israel was created in 1948.a democratic/one-party etc state (=with that type of government): · For more than 70 years, the former Soviet Union was a one-party state.member state (=a country belonging to an international organization): · the member states of the European Union
a strong country that is able to influence other countries politically or economically: · The western powers hardly knew how to react to this threat.· France was the only European power not to sign the treaty.world power (=having influence all over the world): · Germany's strong industrial base has helped maintain its status as a major world power.
a nation that has very great military and political power: · The book traces the emergence of China as a superpower in the 21st century.
country - use this especially in stories and in formal speeches: · His travels in foreign lands provided him with the inspiration for many of his poems and songs.· Our story takes place in a far-off land, long, long ago.
all the people who live in a particular country all the people of a country: · It was a fair election, the people have made their decision, and we must all accept it.the American/British/Thai etc people : · UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said the British should stand shoulder to shoulder with the American people.my/our people : · "Millions of our people are still victims of poverty," said Mandela.the people of : · To what extent did the people of Italy support the new government?
all the people of a country, considered together as a group - use this especially to talk about important events that affect everyone in the country: · The President will make a radio broadcast to the nation this evening.· When Churchill died, the whole nation went into mourning.· The president seems to no longer care what the country thinks.· People think our country has lost its sense of purpose and direction.
the total number of people who live in a particular country or the total number of a particular group of people: · In many Western European countries the population is no longer increasing.population of : · The population of Germany is about 80 million.the Jewish/Russian/Asian etc population : · The country's Jewish population was angered by the prime minister's remarks.
a poor country a country that is not rich and does not have much industry or business activity: · Bellamy called on the United States to increase aid to developing nations.· Leaders of developing countries from around the world met in Indonesia to devise ways to improve their economies.
a Third World country or nation is poor and does not have much industry. Third World is used especially in a negative sense when talking about the problems that these countries face: the Third World (=these countries in general): · Most of the population in the Third World is concentrated in large cities.Third World country/nation: · Sometimes I think that England is becoming a Third World country.
WORD SETSaboriginal, adjectiveaboriginal, nounaborigine, nounAfghan, nounAfrican, adjectiveAfrican, nounAfrican American, nounAfrikaner, nounAfro-, prefixAmerican, adjectiveAmerican, nounAmericanize, verbanglicize, verbAnglo-, prefixanglophile, nounAnglo-Saxon, nounAussie, nounAustralian, nounAustrian, nounAustro-, prefixbarbarian, nounBedouin, nounBenelux, nounBengali, nounbirth, nounblack, adjectiveblack, nounBoer, nounBr., brave, nounBrit, nounBritish, adjectiveBritisher, nounBriton, nounCeltic, adjectiveChinese, adjectivecontinental, adjectivecosmopolitan, adjectivecultural, adjectiveDane, nounDanish, adjectiveDutch, adjectiveDutchman, nouneastern, adjectiveEgyptian, adjectiveEgyptian, nounEnglish, adjectiveEnglishman, nounEnglishwoman, nounEskimo, nounEurasian, adjectiveEurasian, nounEuro-, prefixEuropean, nounEuropean, adjectiveFr, Franco-, prefixFrench, nounFrenchman, nounFrenchwoman, nounGallic, adjectiveGerman, nounGermanic, adjectiveGraeco-, prefixGreco-, prefixGreek, adjectiveGreek, noungypsy, nounHebraic, adjectiveHebrew, nounHellene, nounHellenic, adjectivehighland, adjectiveHighlander, nounHispanic, adjective-i, suffixIberian, adjectiveIndian, nounIndian, adjectiveIndo-, prefixinsular, adjectiveinternational, adjectiveinternationally, adverbinternecine, adjectiveIrish, adjectiveIrishman, nounIrishwoman, noun-ish, suffixIslam, nounislander, nounIsraeli, adjectiveIsraeli, nounIsraelite, nounItalian, nounJohn Bull, nounkiwi, nounLatin, nounLatin, adjectiveManx, adjectiveMaori, nounmestizo, nounmetropolitan, adjectiveMexican, adjectiveMexican, nounMoorish, adjectivemother country, nounmotherland, nounnation, nounnational anthem, nounnational costume, nounnational dress, nounnationalism, nounnationalist, nounnationalistic, adjectivenationality, nounnation state, nounnative, adjectivenative, nounNative American, nounnon-white, nounNordic, adjectiveNorse, adjectiveNorseman, nounnortherner, nounoverseas, adverboverseas, adjectivePakistani, nounparentage, nounPersian, adjectivePersian, nounPole, nounPolish, adjectiveRasta, nounRastafarian, nounRastaman, nounRussian, adjectiveRussian, nounSaxon, nounScot, nounScots, adjectiveScotsman, nounScotswoman, nounScottish, adjectiveSherpa, nounSinhalese, nounSino-, prefixsoutherner, nounSoviet, adjectiveSpaniard, nounSpanish, adjectiveSwede, nounSwedish, adjectiveSwiss, adjectiveTeutonic, adjectiveTurk, nounTurkish, adjectivewestern, adjectiveWesterner, nounwesternized, adjectivewhite, nounYiddish, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadjectives aid to developing countries China’s most-favored-nation trading status with the US a meeting of the world’s major industrial nations a wave of nationalism sweeping the countryCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· The United States is the most powerful nation in the world.
(=one that rules itself, rather than being run by another country)· Countries that were once colonies of Britain are now independent nations.
· The rich industrial nations dominate the global economy.
(=one that has many industries)· In the developed nations, many students go on to university.
(=one that is starting to have more industry)· Food shortages are often a problem in developing nations.
· Most tourists come from the wealthy nations of the world.
· The high cost of medicines in poor nations prevents many citizens from receiving health care.
verbs· He led the nation out of a depression and into a period of growth and prosperity.
· There are many problems facing our nation.
(=make everyone in a country agree)· The crisis seemed to unite the nation.
(=make people in a nation disagree)· The war has divided the nation.
(=make everyone in a nation feel shocked)· This terrible crime has shocked the whole nation.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES aid to developing countries China’s most-favored-nation trading status with the US a meeting of the world’s major industrial nations (=a country that belongs to an international organization)· the member states of the European Union
a wave of nationalism sweeping the country· Theirs is a tragedy for our entire nation.· All groups should enthusiastically coordinate their social and economic activities to achieve the good of the entire nation.· What is good for the food industry can be fatally bad for the health of the entire nation.· Probably not, although there is no uniform law on this question applicable to the entire nation.· Complete public humiliation in front of the entire nation is a prospect likely to make a man reckless, desperate even.· Imagine an entire nation of people missing their mutton.· It was an entire nation of pragmatists, each individual swaying with the prevailing wind to ensure his or her own future.· It must involve the total mobilization of the creative energies, imagination and problem-solving capacities of the entire nation.
· No advanced industrial nation gives corporations a freer hand in busting unions.· The conference, bringing together the world's seven leading industrial nations, centred on trade talks.· Seatbelt-use rates are higher in other industrial nations than in the United States.· The major, Western industrial nations are today using 17% less energy per unit of economic growth than they were in 1973.· He remains a federal employee and is handling preparations for the upcoming meeting of the seven major industrial nations.· We were then the greatest industrial nation on earth.· In the end the Group of Seven leading industrial nations supported the debt relief campaign for two reasons.
· If other nations want the data, they should share the costs, it says.· Almost all the characteristics that I enumerate apply to other nations in one way or another.· If he can alter the fortunes of the superpower state for the better, other nations will follow.· They go about this work, however, in a way somewhat different from computer firms in other nations.· The policy traditions are again quite distinctive in other nations.· What other nation can not even settle on its own name?· Now, finally, Taylor is urging some one to climb above the heap. Other nations always have.
· Greater stability would give poorer nations the opportunity to reduce their own military expenditure.· Eighty percent of the legal needs of the poor of our nation, mostly minorities, are not met.· This runs parallel with the use of force to suppress uprisings in poor nations against policies of these same institutions.· One such factor is economic: Poor nations are simply unable to afford environmentally sound consumption and production practices.· But the poorer nations would also have to accept binding targets for cutting emissions.· We are a poor, underdeveloped nation.· Global surpluses can likewise be meaningless to the dozens of poor nations that have overwhelming demands placed on slim foreign exchange reserves.
· The education target is in even more danger unless richer nations act. / Happy as Lowry?· Around the globe, the richer nations have made easing the overcrowding of third world cities a top aid priority.· The rich industrial nations dominate the global economy, they believe.· His are the kind, I must suppose, that make men rich and nations prosperous.· In 1993, for every dollar given in aid rich nations took back three in debt repayments.· The Soviet Union has the potential to be one of the richest nations on earth.· While poor countries have liberalised their markets, rich nations have remained protectionist, especially in areas such as textiles and agriculture.· Encouragement and funding by richer nations could establish more national parks, essential for preserving the many different kinds of forest.
· The major, Western industrial nations are today using 17% less energy per unit of economic growth than they were in 1973.· This same change of emphasis has occurred in the industry of all the Western industrial nations.· Most Western nations tolerate Salmonella in chickens and scrapie in sheep, but this must change.· But leading Western nations argued that the Bank management had not considered its environmental and social effects properly.· The Marxist tradition emphasises the dominance of capital in the economy of western nations.· This is tragedy, completely unacceptable when comfortable Western nations are replete with food, and waste huge amounts of it.
· Regional unemployment and regional recession are an economic loss to the whole nation and they will not rectify themselves on their own.· In these samples, less than a few thousand people may represent a whole nation of viewers.· Champion recovered from cancer during 1979 / 80 to make a recovery that the whole nation could marvel at.· A whole nation, all of civilized society, perhaps, seeking the blameless state of madness.· Far better condemn the whole nation to watching television.· He called forth again the language of the elect, but turned it from the Puritan community to the whole nation.· I hope that the decision taken tonight will be to the benefit of the whole nation.· Formerly, the rich depended in some way on the well-being of the whole nation.
NOUN· All member nations who wish to be represented are allowed to have one vote - nomatterhow large or small the nations are.· He sees the United Nations not simply as bloated, but as encroaching dangerously and purposefully on the sovereignty of member nations.· Such information is to be forwarded to other member nations by the Commission.
· We have been a nation state for a very long time.· The bottom line was that in the Soviet Union, as in every other nation state in history, money talked.· On the one hand they are rebuilding in Berlin the grandiose capital of a restored nation state.· These constitute the basis upon which the very possibility of a nation state rests.· And people live still inside nation states with all their dense allegiances and histories.· First, collecting relevant data on the independent nation states of the world can be difficult and time-consuming.· The extension of the method to aggregate data on nation states will certainly follow, but will involve more complicated techniques.· Virtually all nation states are multi-national, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-cultural.
VERB· Answer: We are becoming a nation without culture.· Neither became nation states until the nineteenth century.· Britain became an elderly nation before others started to turn grey.· I believe that generosity becomes less between nations, as the world economy heads for a more frightening decline.
· And we claim to be a developed nation.· At the same time, developing nations are growing more and more thirsty for energy as their industries grow.· In the years since, developing nations have closed the gap with remarkable speed.· Sensitive to such shortcomings, family planning agencies in many developing nations have taken steps to make services more accessible.· The average person in a developing nation consumes only 1, 031 pounds of food.· One obvious way for developing nations to get the money is for outside donors to give it to them.· The competition between the superpowers to purchase the friendship of developing nations was over.· So far we have concentrated on the future of the developed nations.
· But it is becoming increasingly important that an accord on foreign corporate investment is negotiated between leading industrial nations.· But leading Western nations argued that the Bank management had not considered its environmental and social effects properly.· California leads the nation in shifting to managed care, with San Diego County in the vanguard.· Above all: Is Clinton ready to lead the nation?
WORD FAMILYnounnationnationalmultinationalnationalismnationalistnationalitynationalizationnationhoodinternationalinternationalisminternationalistinternationalizationadjectivenationalinternationalmultinationalnationalistnationalisticnationalizedinternationalistverbnationalizeinternationalizeadverbnationallyinternationally
1a country, considered especially in relation to its people and its social or economic structure: the president’s radio broadcast to the nation an independent nation the world’s leading industrial nations► see thesaurus at country2a large group of people of the same race and language: the Cherokee nationCOLLOCATIONSadjectivesa great/powerful nation· The United States is the most powerful nation in the world.an independent/sovereign nation (=one that rules itself, rather than being run by another country)· Countries that were once colonies of Britain are now independent nations.an industrial/industrialized nation· The rich industrial nations dominate the global economy.a developed/advanced nation (=one that has many industries)· In the developed nations, many students go on to university.a developing/emerging nation (=one that is starting to have more industry)· Food shortages are often a problem in developing nations.a rich/wealthy nation· Most tourists come from the wealthy nations of the world.a poor nation· The high cost of medicines in poor nations prevents many citizens from receiving health care.verbslead a nation· He led the nation out of a depression and into a period of growth and prosperity.face a nation· There are many problems facing our nation.unite a nation (=make everyone in a country agree)· The crisis seemed to unite the nation.divide a nation (=make people in a nation disagree)· The war has divided the nation.shock a nation (=make everyone in a nation feel shocked)· This terrible crime has shocked the whole nation.