(~s)
1.
The ~ of something is the fact that it continues, rather than stopping.
It’s the coalition forces who are to blame for the ~ of the war...
N-VAR: usu with poss
2.
Something that is a ~ of something else is closely connected with it or forms part of it.
It would just be a ~ of previous visits he has made to Israel.
N-COUNT: usu sing, N of n