/ ˈkʌntri; NAmE / noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ C ] an area of land that has or used to have its own government and laws :
European countries
leading industrial countries
She didn't know what life in a foreign country would be like.
It's good to meet people from different parts of the country .
2.
[ U ] (often following an adjective) an area of land, especially with particular physical features, suitable for a particular purpose or connected with a particular person or people :
open / wooded, etc. country
superb walking country
Explore Thomas Hardy country.
—see also backcountry
3.
the country [ sing. ] the people of a country; the nation as a whole :
They have the support of most of the country.
The rich benefited from the reforms, not the country as a whole .
—see also mother country , the old country , up-country
4.
the country [ sing. ] any area outside towns and cities, with fields, woods, farms, etc. :
to live in the country
We spent a pleasant day in the country.
a country lane
5.
[ U ] = country and western :
pop, folk and country
•
IDIOMS
- across country
- go to the country
—more at free adjective
••
SYNONYMS
country
landscape ♦ countryside ♦ terrain ♦ land ♦ scenery
These are all words for areas away from towns and cities, with fields, woods and farms.
country
(often the country ) an area that is away from towns and cities, especially one with particular natural features:
She lives in the country.
•
an area of wooded country
landscape
everything that you can see when you look across a large area of land, especially in the country:
This pattern of woods and fields is typical of the English landscape.
countryside
land outside towns and cities, with fields, woods and farms.
NOTE
Countryside is usually used when you are talking about the beauty or peacefulness of a country area:
a little village in the French countryside
.
terrain
( formal ) land.
NOTE
Terrain is used when you are describing the natural features of an area, for example if it is rough, flat, etc:
The truck bumped its way over the rough terrain.
land
(usually the land ) the countryside; the way people live in the country as opposed to in towns and cities:
Many younger people are leaving the land to find work in the cities.
scenery
the natural features of an area, such as mountains, valleys, rivers and forests, especially when these are attractive to look at:
We stopped on the mountain pass to admire the scenery.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
hilly / mountainous / mountain / rough / wild / rugged country / landscape / countryside / terrain / land / scenery
beautiful / glorious / dramatic country / landscape / countryside / scenery
open / rolling country / landscape / countryside / terrain / land
rural / urban landscape / terrain / scenery
to conserve / preserve / protect / destroy the country / landscape / countryside / land
a stretch of country / countryside / land
••
WHICH WORD
country / state
Country is the most usual, neutral word for a geographical area that has or used to have its own government.
State emphasizes the political organization of an area under an independent government. Especially in BrE , it can also mean the government:
the member states of the EU
•
The state provides free education.
In NAmE the state usually refers to one of the 50 states of the US, not to the government of the country as a whole.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French cuntree , from medieval Latin contrata (terra) (land) lying opposite, from Latin contra against, opposite.