əˈmerɪkən adj. & n. --adj. 1
of, relating
to, or
characteristic of
the United States or
its inhabitants. 2 (usu. in comb.) of or relating to the continents of America (Latin-American). --n. 1 a
native or
citizen of the United States. 2 (usu. in comb.) a native or inhabitant of the continents of America (North Americans). 3 the
English language as it is used in the United States. øAmerican
dream the
traditional ideals of the American
people,
such as
equality,
democracy,
and material prosperity. American
football a kind of football played
with an
oval ball, evolved
from Rugby football. American
Indian see INDIAN. [mod.L Americanus f. America f. Latinized
name of Amerigo Vespucci,
It.
navigator d. 1512]