country
n. C / Un. an area of land that has its own government and flag. It can also mean the land outside of big cities where there are farms and trees.
n. a nation or state with its own distinct territory and government. Also refers to rural areas as opposed to urban centres.
France is a beautiful country in Europe.
After living in the city for ten years, they decided to move to the country for a quieter life.
The treaty was signed by every country in the region to ensure that trade remained open and peaceful for the next decade.
From Middle English contre, contree, contreie, from Old French contree, cuntrede, from Vulgar Latin *(terra) contrata (“(land) lying opposite; (land) spread before one”) (also in Medieval Latin as "country, region"), from Latin contrā (“against, opposite”) (whence contra-). Cognate with Scots kintra. Unrelated to county. Displaced native English land in some of its senses. From around 1300 as "area surrounding a walled city or town; the open country." By early 16th century the sense was applied mostly to rural areas, as opposed to towns and cities. Compare typologically Russian страна́ (straná), сторона́ (storoná).
Countable when referring to a nation; uncountable when referring to rural land (often preceded by 'the').
I live in countryI live in the countryWhen referring to rural areas rather than a specific nation, the word requires the definite article.