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UK [wɜː(r)ld] / US [wɜrld] noun
Word forms "world":
singular world plural worlds
1)
a) the world the planet that we live on

We observe changes in the world's climate.

b) [countable] any other planet

creatures from alien worlds

2) [singular] society in general, in all countries

We want to guarantee our children a safer world.

all over the world/throughout the world:

The same problems are faced by children throughout the world.

the whole world:

The terrorists pose a threat to the whole world.

a) [only before noun] involving or affecting all countries

She's won medals at three previous world championships.

the world economy

a world war

b) used about ordinary society and its moral values, rather than religious or spiritual matters

It was a choice between the world and God.

c) if someone moves up or down in the world, they move to a higher or lower social class
go up in the world:

She's gone up in the world, by marrying into money.

go/come down in the world:

If you're used to driving the newer models, you may feel that you've come down in the world.

3) [singular] a particular group of countries

It is the oldest institution in the English-speaking world.

This disease is increasing dramatically in the western world (= the countries of western Europe and North America).

a) [singular] used about a particular society at a particular time in history

This library was one of the wonders of the Ancient World.

b) [usually singular] used about the particular type of place or situation in which someone lives or works

the entertainment world

the world of work

Children feel powerful in the world of imagination that they create.

4) [singular] mainly literary the state of being alive
bring a child into the world:

I wouldn't want to bring a child into this cruel world.

come into the world (= be born):

Thousands of babies come into the world every day.

leave/depart this world (= die) literary:

There's something I want to do before I depart this world.

•

be/mean the world to someone — informal used for emphasizing that someone or something is very important to someone

She means the world to me.

for (all) the world — used for emphasis

She looked for all the world like a girl I knew at school (= she looked exactly like her).

A leading company wouldn't give up its market position for the world.

a man/woman of the world — a man/woman who has had a lot of experience of life and is not easily shocked by things such as immoral or unusual behaviour

set/put the world to rights — humorous to have a conversation with someone in which you exchange opinions on a range of subjects, especially opinions on how to solve society's problems

what is the world coming to? — used for showing surprise or anger when you do not approve of what someone has done

a/the world of good — if something does you a world of good, it makes you feel very happy or healthy

A holiday will do them a world of good.

a world/worlds apart — completely different from each other

His lifestyle and mine are worlds apart.

See:
best II, dead I, long I, think I, top I, watch I

English dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • World — World, n. [OE. world, werld, weorld, weoreld, AS. weorold, worold; akin to OS. werold, D. wereld, OHG. weralt, worolt, werolt, werlt, G. welt, Icel. ver[ o]ld, Sw. verld, Dan. verden; properly, the age of man, lifetime, humanity; AS. wer a man +… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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