britain
n. uncountablen. the large island that includes the countries of England, Scotland, and Wales. It is often used to talk about the United Kingdom as a whole.
n. the island containing England, Scotland, and Wales, or more broadly, the sovereign state of the United Kingdom. Frequently used as a political synonym for the UK, though geographically it refers to the largest of the British Isles.
Many tourists visit Britain to see historic castles.
The trade agreement between Britain and its neighbors was signed after months of difficult negotiations.
While the term strictly refers to the island itself, in modern political discourse, Britain is frequently used to represent the entire United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland.
From Middle English Britayne, Breteyn, from Anglo-Norman Bretaigne, Bretaine, from Latin Brittannia, variant of Latin Britannia, from Britannī; reinforced by native Old English Breten, from the same Latin source. Ultimately from Proto-Brythonic Prɨdėn (“Britain”) from Pritanī (also compare Prɨdɨn (“Picts”) from Pritenī), attested to in Ancient Greek as Πρεττανική (Prettanikḗ), compare Welsh Prydain. Doublet of Britannia and Brittany. More at Britto.
From Middle English brytayn, from Latin Britannus (adjective and noun, plural Britannī), apparently from Brythonic (compare Old Welsh Priten).
Usually used without an article ('Britain' rather than 'the Britain'), though 'Great Britain' is the formal geographical name.
He lives in the Britain.He lives in Britain.Unlike 'the UK' or 'the United Kingdom', the name 'Britain' does not take a definite article.