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world

n.
US //ˈwɝɫd// UK //wˈɜːld// world
  1. 1 the planet Earth (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    the planet that we live on.

    the planet Earth, often considered in a physical, geopolitical, or environmental context.

    Example

    The ship sailed all the way around the world in eighty days.

    Example

    Environmental scientists are increasingly concerned about the impact of rising temperatures on the world's polar ice caps.
  2. 2 human society (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    all the people in the world and the way they live together.

    the collective human experience or the global community of people.

    Example

    The internet has changed the way the whole world communicates.

    Example

    The leader's speech was broadcast live, reaching a world that was eager for news of a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
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  1. 3 a specific area of interest (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a particular group of things, people, or activities.

    a specific sphere of activity, interest, or profession.

    Example

    She has always wanted to work in the world of fashion.

    Example

    Navigating the complex world of international finance requires both specialized knowledge and a high degree of professional intuition.
  2. 4 gaming/fiction (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Computing

    a fictional place or a part of a video game.

    a fictional realm or a discrete subdivision of a game environment.

    Example

    I finally reached the third world in the game after playing for hours.

    Example

    The author spent years developing the history and languages of her fantasy world before writing the first chapter of the novel.
  3. 5 a great amount (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a very large amount of something.

    a significant or vast amount; often used in the phrase 'a world of difference'.

    Example

    Getting a good night's sleep did him a world of good.

    Example

    There is a world of difference between theoretical knowledge and the practical skills gained through years of on-the-job experience.
Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *weyh₁-? Proto-Indo-European *wiHrós Proto-Germanic *weraz Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *h₂életi Proto-Germanic *alaną Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Germanic *-þiz Proto-Germanic *aldiz Proto-Germanic *weraldiz Proto-West Germanic *weraldi Old English weorold Middle English world English world From Middle English world, from Old English weorold (“world”), from Proto-West Germanic weraldi, from Proto-Germanic weraldiz (“lifetime, human existence, world”, literally “age/era of man”), equivalent to wer (“man”) + eld (“age”). Eclipsed non-native Middle English mounde (“world”), from Old French monde, munde (“world”). Cognates Cognate with Scots warld (“world”), North Frisian Wārel, wäält, wråål (“world”), Saterland Frisian Waareld (“world”), West Frisian wrâld (“world”), Afrikaans wêreld (“world”), Bavarian Wöd (“world”), Dutch wereld (“world”), German, Luxembourgish Welt (“world”), German Low German Wereld, Werld (“world”), Vilamovian wełt (“world”), Yiddish וועלט (velt, “world”), Danish verden (“world”), Elfdalian wärd (“world”), Faroese verð, verøld (“world”), Icelandic veröld (“world”), Norn vrildan (“the earth”), Norwegian Bokmål verd, verden (“(the) world”), Norwegian Nynorsk verd (“world”), Swedish värld (“world”).

Word family
Idioms33 entries

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