I. UK, the BrE AmE , the U.K. /ˌjuː ˈkeɪ◂/
the abbreviation of the United Kingdom
II. Uˌnited ˈKingdom, the BrE AmE abbreviation , UK
a country in northwest Europe, officially called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, made up of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Population: 60,943,912 (2008). Capital: London. The name ‘United Kingdom’ was first used in 1707, when the parliaments of England and Scotland united to form one country. The country’s government consists of a Queen or King, a Prime Minister, and two Houses of Parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The United Kingdom has been a member of the EU (European Union) since 1972. ⇨ ↑ UK , ↑ England , ↑ Northern Ireland , ↑ Scotland , ↑ Wales