ˈnæʃənl adj. & n. --adj. 1 of or
common to a
nation or
the nation. 2
peculiar to or
characteristic of a
particular nation. --n. 1 a
citizen of a specified
country, usu. entitled to hold
that country's
passport (French nationals). 2 a
fellow countryman. 3 (the National) =
Grand National. ønational
anthem a
song adopted by a nation,
expressive of
its identity etc.
and intended to
inspire patriotism. National
Assembly 1 an elected
house of
legislature in
various countries. 2
hist. the elected legislature in France 1789-91. National Assistance hist. 1 (in Britain) the former
official name for supplementary benefits
under National
Insurance. 2
such benefits. national bank US a bank chartered under the
federal government. national
convention US a convention of a
major political party, nominating candidates for the
presidency etc. national
debt the
money owed by a
State because of loans to
it. national
football Austral.
Australian Rules football. National
Front a UK political party
with extreme reactionary views on immigration etc. national
grid Brit. 1 the
network of high-voltage
electric power lines
between major power stations. 2 the
metric system of
geographical coordinates used in maps of the
British Isles. National
Guard (in the US) the
primary reserve force
partly maintained by the States but
available for federal
use. National
Health (or Health Service) (in the UK) a system of national
medical care paid for
mainly by
taxation and started in 1948. national
income the
total money earned
within a nation. National Insurance (in the UK) the system of
compulsory payments by employed persons (supplemented by employers) to
provide State assistance in
sickness,
unemployment,
retirement, etc. national
park an
area of
natural beauty protected by the State for the use of the
general public. national service Brit. hist. service in the
army etc. under
conscription. National
Socialism hist. the doctrines of
nationalism,
racial purity,
etc., adopted by the Nazis. National Socialist hist. a
member of the fascist party implementing National Socialism in Germany, 1933-45. National
Trust (in the
UK, Australia, etc.) an
organization for maintaining and preserving
historic buildings etc. øønationally adv. [F (as NATION)]