ENGLISH
REFERENCE

brazil

n. uncountable
A1 Beginner US //bɹəˈzɪɫ// UK //bɹɐzˈɪl// brazil Archaic

n. the largest country in South America. It is famous for its large rainforest, beautiful beaches, and the Portuguese language.

n. a sovereign state in South America, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil. It is the world's fifth-largest country by area and the largest where Portuguese is the official language.


SIMPLE

Brazil is the largest country in South America.

CONTEXTUAL

Many tourists visit Brazil every year to experience the famous Carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro.

COMPLEX

As a major global exporter of coffee and soy, Brazil plays a critical role in international trade and the management of the Amazon rainforest's biodiversity.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Portuguese Brazil, older spelling of Brasil, from brasil (“brazilwood”), originally ‘red like an ember’, from brasa (“ember”), perhaps from Proto-Germanic *brasō (“gleed, crackling coal”), and -il (“-ile, -like, -y”) from Latin -īlis (“adjective suffix”).

Etymology 2

Reduced Anglicized form of Irish Ó Breasail (“descendant of Breasal”), a byname meaning "strife".

Usage

Proper noun; typically used without an article unless referring to the 'Federative Republic of Brazil'.

Pitfall

I am going to the BrazilI am going to BrazilUnlike 'the United States' or 'the UK', the name Brazil does not take a definite article.

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