(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is a workers’ organization which represents its members and which aims to improve things such as their working conditions and pay.
I feel that women in all types of employment can benefit from joining a ~.
...~ officials.
= trade ~
N-COUNT
2.
When the ~ of two or more things occurs, they are joined together and become one thing.
In 1918 the Romanian majority in this former tsarist province voted for ~ with Romania.
N-UNCOUNT: oft N with/of n
3.
When two or more things, for example countries or organizations, have been joined together to form one thing, you can refer to them as a ~.
Tanzania is a ~ of the states of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
...the question of which countries should join the currency ~.
N-SING: usu with supp, oft N of pl-n
4.
Union is used in the name of some clubs, societies, and organizations.
The naming of stars is at the discretion of the International Astronomical Union.
N-IN-NAMES