wə:ld n. 1 a
the earth, or a
planetary body like
it. b
its countries
and their inhabitants. c
all people; the earth as
known or in
some particular respect. 2 a the
universe or all
that exists;
everything. b everything that exists
outside oneself (dead to the world). 3 a the
time,
state, or
scene of
human existence. b (prec. by the, this)
mortal life. 4
secular interests and affairs. 5 human affairs; their
course and conditions;
active life (how
goes the world
with you?). 6
average,
respectable, or
fashionable people or their customs or opinions. 7 all that concerns or all
who belong to a specified
class, time,
domain, or
sphere of
activity (the
medieval world; the world of sport). 8 (foll. by of) a
vast amount (that makes a world of difference). 9 (attrib.) affecting
many nations, of all nations (world
politics; a world champion). øall the world and
his wife 1
any large mixed gathering of people. 2 all with pretensions to
fashion.
bring into the world
give birth to or
attend at the birth
of.
carry the world
before one have rapid and
complete success.
come into the world be
born.
for all the world (foll. by like, as if)
precisely (looked for all the world as if
they were real).
get the
best of
both worlds
benefit from two incompatible sets of ideas, circumstances, etc. in the world of all; at all (used as an
intensifier in questions) (what in the world is it?).
man (or woman) of the world a
person experienced and
practical in human affairs. the
next (or other) world a supposed life
after death.
out of
this world colloq. extremely
good etc. (the
food was out of this world). see the world
travel widely;
gain wide experience.
think the world of have a
very high regard for. World Bank colloq. the
International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development, an
organization administering
economic aid between member nations. world-beater a person or
thing surpassing all others. world-class of a
quality or
standard regarded as high
throughout the world. World
Cup a
competition between
football or
other sporting teams from
various countries. world-famous known throughout the world. the world, the
flesh, and the
devil the various kinds of
temptation. world
language 1 an
artificial language for international
use. 2 a language
spoken in many countries. world-line
Physics a
curve in space-time joining the positions of a
particle throughout its existence. the (or all the) world
over throughout the world. world
power a
nation having power and
influence in world affairs. the world's
end the
farthest attainable
point of travel. World
Series the US
championship for
baseball teams. world-shaking of
supreme importance. the world to come supposed life after death. world-view =
WELTANSCHAUUNG. world
war a war involving many
important nations (First World War of 1914-18; Second World War of 1939-45). world-weariness
being world-weary. world-weary
weary of the world and life on it. world
without end for
ever. [OE w(e)orold, world f. a Gmc root
meaning 'age': rel. to OLD]
