- world
- world1 W1S1 [wə:ld US wə:rld] n▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(our planet/everyone on it)¦2 in the world3¦(the society we live in)¦4¦(group of countries )¦5¦(time in history)¦6¦(somebody's life and experiences)¦7¦(area of activity/work)¦8¦(nature/animals/plants)¦9¦(place/situation)¦10¦(another planet)¦11¦(something is very different)¦12 the outside world13 the material world14 for all the world as if/as though/like15 out of this world16 do somebody a world of good17 in a world of your own/in your own little world18 mean the world to somebody/think the world of somebody19 somebody would give the world to do something20 be/feel on top of the world21 be a man/woman of the world22 not for the world23 the world is your oyster24 have the world at your feet25 go up/come down in the world26 set the world on fire/alight27 set/put the world to rights28 the Michael Jacksons/Mother Teresas/Microsofts etc of this world29 think the world owes you a living30 (think that) the world revolves around you31 the world and his wife32 come into the world33 bring a child into the world34 somebody is not long for this world35¦(normal life)¦▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[: Old English; Origin: woruld 'human existence, this world, age']1.) ¦(OUR PLANET/EVERYONE ON IT)¦the worldthe ↑planet we live on, and all the people, cities, and countries on it→↑earth▪ Tuberculosis is still common in some parts of the world .▪ At that time China was the most powerful country in the world .▪ the world's tallest building▪ The Taj Mahal attracts visitors from around the world .▪ Students from all over the world come to study at Oxford.▪ Children are the same the world over .▪ The book has been published throughout the world .▪ There is nothing quite like it anywhere in the world .▪ Europe's relationship with the rest of the world▪ I decided to take a year off to travel the world .▪ a crime that shocked the world2.) in the worldused to emphasize what you are sayingthe happiest/most exciting etc ... in the world▪ I'm the luckiest man in the world!▪ Bali is my favourite place in the whole world .▪ Off he went, without a care in the world (=not be worried about anything at all) .▪ Nothing in the world (=nothing at all) can save them now.▪ Don't worry, we've got all the time in the world (=plenty of time so you do not need to hurry) .what/who/where/how etc in the world ...?(=used when you are very surprised or annoyed)▪ What in the world are you doing here at seven in the morning?3.) ¦(THE SOCIETY WE LIVE IN)¦ [singular]the society that we live in, the way people behave, and the kind of life we have▪ Parents want a better world for their children.the world▪ The world is being transformed by information technology.▪ You had to go into politics if you wanted to change the world.in an ideal/perfect world(=used to say how you would like things to be)▪ In an ideal world, we would be able to recycle everything.the real world(=the way life really is, not how people would like it to be or imagine it)▪ In the real world, things are never quite so simple.what is the world coming to?(=used to say that you do not like the way society is changing)▪ Five pounds just to park your car! I don't know what the world's coming to.4.) ¦(GROUP OF COUNTRIES )¦ [singular]a particular group of countriesthe Western/Arab etc world▪ the highest unemployment rate in the Western world▪ the English-speaking world▪ agricultural practices in the developing world▪ the economies of the industrialized world5.) ¦(TIME IN HISTORY)¦ [singular]a particular period in historythe modern/ancient world▪ the peoples of the ancient worldthe world of ...▪ the world of the Ancient Greeks6.) ¦(SOMEBODY'S LIFE AND EXPERIENCES)¦the life and experiences of a particular person or group of peopleworld of▪ the world of children▪ The diary gives us an insight into Hemingway's world.7.) ¦(AREA OF ACTIVITY/WORK)¦ [C usually singular]a particular area of activity or work, and the people who are involved in itthe world of politics/business/work etc▪ She knew little about the world of politics.the art/business/academic etc world▪ personalities from the sporting world8.) ¦(NATURE/ANIMALS/PLANTS)¦the natural/animal/plant worldall of nature, or all animals or plants considered as a group▪ the wonders of the natural world9.) ¦(PLACE/SITUATION)¦ [C usually singular]a particular kind of place or situation, especially one that someone describes or which you imagineworld of▪ the nightmare world of Orwell's novel 1984▪ a world of lies and secrecy10.)¦(ANOTHER PLANET)¦a place like the Earth in another part of the universe where other things may live▪ strange creatures from another world11.) ¦(SOMETHING IS VERY DIFFERENT)¦used in the following phrases to emphasize that something is very different▪ There's a world of difference between the US and Europe.▪ I realized we were still worlds apart (=very different, especially concerning your ideas, opinions etc ) .▪ It was a world away from (=completely different from) the grand hotels she was used to.12.) the outside worldthe people who live outside a particular place or country - used when the people of that place or country do not often meet other people▪ Prisoners have little contact with the outside world.be cut off from/closed to/isolated from the outside world▪ Parts of the country have been virtually closed to the outside world for 20 years.13.) the material worldreal things, rather than ideas and beliefs▪ Is the material world all that exists?14.) for all the world as if/as though/likeliterary exactly as if or exactly like▪ She sat reading her paper, looking for all the world as if nothing had happened.15.) out of this world informalextremely good, enjoyable etc▪ The graphics and sounds are out of this world.16.) do sb a world of goodto be very good for someone's health or mental state▪ A bit of fresh air and exercise will do her a world of good.17.) in a world of your own/in your own little worldused to say that someone seems to spend a lot of time thinking or imagining things, and does not seem to notice what is happening around them▪ She was a shy child who seemed to live in a world of her own .18.) mean the world to sb/think the world of sbif someone or something means the world to you, or if you think the world of them, they are very important to you and you love or respect them very much▪ Lee thinks the world of that dog.19.) sb would give the world to do sthused to say that someone would like to do something very much▪ He would give the world to see her again.20.) be/feel on top of the world informalto feel extremely happy21.) be a man/woman of the worldto be someone who has had many experiences and is not easily shocked22.) not for the worldused to emphasize that you would not do something▪ I wouldn't hurt her for the world .▪ I wouldn't have missed it for the world.23.) the world is your oysterthere is no limit to the opportunities that someone has▪ If you've got a good education, the world is your oyster.24.) have the world at your feeta) to be very famous, popular, or successful▪ In those days the band had the world at their feet.b) to be in a position where you have the chance to become very successful▪ a bright young lad with the world at his feet25.) go up/come down in the worldto move to a higher or lower position in society▪ He's gone up in the world a bit since I knew him at college.26.) set the world on fire/alightspoken to have a big effect or be very successful▪ Her last film didn't exactly set the world on fire.27.) set/put the world to rightsto discuss or say how the world should be changed to make people's lives better▪ We were having a few beers and generally putting the world to rights.28.) the Michael Jacksons/Mother Teresas/Microsofts etc of this worldspoken used to talk about a particular kind of person or group, by using one person or group as an example▪ The US team is new to the soccer scene, and can't expect to beat the Brazils of the world.29.) think the world owes you a livingto think that you should not have to work and that other people will provide you with everything you need - used to show disapproval30.) (think that) the world revolves around youto think that you are the most important person and everyone else should only be interested in making sure that you have what you want - used to show disapproval31.) the world and his wifeBrE everyone or anybody - used when you want to emphasize that a lot of people do something or anyone can do something▪ It seemed that the world and his wife had come to Madrid.32.) come into the worldliterary to be born33.) bring a child into the worldliterary to have a baby, or help a baby to be born34.) sb is not long for this worldliterary used to say that someone is likely to die soon35.) ¦(NORMAL LIFE)¦the worldnormal life in society, as opposed to a religious way of life, especially in a ↑monastery etc▪ She renounced the world and entered a convent.▬▬▬▬▬▬▬COLLOCATES for sense 1a part of the worldthe highest/most powerful etc in the worldthe world's oldest/tallest etc ...around the worldall over the world/the world over (=everywhere in the world)throughout/across the world (=everywhere in the world)anywhere in the worldthe rest of the worldthe whole/entire worldsee/travel the world (=travel to many different countries)▬▬▬▬▬▬▬world 2world2 adj [only before noun]1.) existing in, involving, or affecting all or most countries in the worldthe World Cup/Championships etc(=a competition involving people from many countries)▪ He won the world title in 2001.▪ the reigning Formula One world championworld trade/economy etc▪ the impact of the crisis on the world economy2.) a world figure is one of the most important people in the world▪ a meeting of world leaders▪ a world authority on climate change
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.
