ter ‧ ri ‧ to ‧ ry W2 /ˈterət ə ri, ˈterɪt ə ri $ -tɔːri/ BrE AmE noun ( plural territories )
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: territorium 'land around a town' , from terra ; ⇨ ↑ terrace ]
1 . GOVERNMENT/MILITARY [uncountable and countable] land that is owned or controlled by a particular country, ruler, or military force:
Hong Kong became Chinese territory in 1997.
occupied/enemy/disputed/hostile territory
The plane was flying over enemy territory.
2 . TYPE OF LAND [uncountable] land of a particular type
uncharted/unexplored territory
an expedition through previously unexplored territory
3 . ANIMAL [uncountable and countable] the area that an animal, bird etc regards as its own and will defend against other animals:
A tiger has a large territory to defend.
A dog uses urine to mark its territory.
4 . NEW OR FAMILIAR EXPERIENCE [uncountable] a particular area of experience or knowledge
new/unfamiliar/uncharted territory
The company is moving into unfamiliar territory with this new software.
Actor Patrick Bergin returns to more familiar territory to play a menacing killer.
5 . BUSINESS [uncountable and countable] an area in a town, country etc that someone is responsible for as part of their job, especially someone whose job is to sell products:
a sales territory
6 . come/go with the territory to be a natural and accepted part of a particular job, situation, place etc:
I’m a cop – getting shot at goes with the territory.
7 . LAND THAT IS NOT A STATE [countable] land that belongs to the United States, Canada etc but that is not a state:
the US territory of Guam
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COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + enemy
▪ enemy/hostile territory
Patterson had never flown so deep into enemy territory before.
▪ occupied territory (=land that is controlled by a foreign country or its army)
America has always wanted Israel to give up some of the occupied territory.
▪ disputed territory (=land that two countries are fighting or arguing to get control of)
The latest round of talks over the disputed territory begins next week.
▪ neutral territory (=a place or country that is not controlled by either of the groups or countries involved in a war)
After crossing the frontier post, he would be safe in neutral territory.
▪ Chinese/German etc territory
The Russians handed over to Poland a large slice of German territory.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ land an area that is owned by someone or that can be used for farming or building houses:
This is private land.
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They moved to the country and bought some land.
▪ farmland land that is used for farming:
The area is one of gently rolling hills and farmland.
▪ territory land that belongs to a country or that is controlled by a country during a war:
His plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Chinese territory.
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The army was advancing into enemy territory.
▪ the grounds the gardens and land around a big building such as a castle, school, or hospital:
The grounds of the castle are open to visitors every weekend.
|
the school grounds
▪ estate a large area of land in the country, usually with one large house on it and one owner:
The film is set on an English country estate.