• • (British, America, CA) IPA: /ˈkʌntɹi/, [ˈkʰʌnt̠ɹ̠̊˔ʷi], /ˈkʌntɹɪ/
  • (AuE, New Zealand) IPA: /ˈkɐntɹi/

country (plural countries)

1. (chiefly British) An area of land; a district, region. [from 13th c.]
   • 2010, David Vann, The Observer, 7 Mar 2010:

     We walk along flat, open country, red dirt and spinifex grass, a few short trees […].

2. A set region of land having particular human occupation or agreed limits, especially inhabited by members of the same race, speakers of the same language etc., or associated with a given person, occupation, species etc. [from 13th c.]
   • 2007, Chris Moss, The Guardian, 17 Feb 2007:

     This is condor country - the only region this far east where you can see the magnificent vulture - and a small national park straddling the passes, El Condorito, is a good stopover for walkers and birders.

3. The territory of a nation, especially an independent nation state or formerly independent nation; a political entity asserting ultimate authority over a geographical area; a sovereign state. [from 14th c.]
   • 1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus 2010, page 3:

     It is a beautiful country of rolling hills, fertile valleys, and a thousand rivers and streams which keep the landscape green even in winter.

   • 2010, The Economist, 3 Feb 2011:

     These days corporate Germany looks rather different. Volkswagen, the country’s leading carmaker, wants to be the world’s biggest by 2018.

4. (uncountable, usually preceded by “the”) A rural area, as opposed to a town or city; the countryside. [from 16th c.]
   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 17, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes, […], book II, printed at London: By Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821 ↗:

     I was borne and brought up in the Countrie, and amidst husbandry […].

   • 2000, Alexander Chancellor, The Guardian, 4 Mar.:

     I have always thought that one of the main reasons for the popularity of blood sports in the country is the pointlessness of going outdoors with no purpose or destination in mind.

5. Ellipsis of country music#English|country music [from 20th c.]
6. (mining) The rock through which a vein runs.
7. (vulgar, countable) The female genitalia, especially the vagina.
   • 1988, K.T. Oslin, "Hey Bobby"

     Hey Bobby

     Would you like to go for a ride in the country with me?

• French: pays, contrée
• German: Land
• Italian: paese, landa
• Portuguese: país, nação
• Russian: страна́
• Spanish: país

• French: pays, contrée
• German: Land; Staat; Vaterland
• Italian: paese, nazione, patria, stato
• Portuguese: país, nação, países
• Russian: страна́
• Spanish: país

• French: campagne
• German: Land; Landschaft; Region
• Italian: campo, campagna
• Portuguese: campo
• Russian: дере́вня
• Spanish: campo

• French: country
• German: Country
• Portuguese: country
• Russian: ка́нтри
• Spanish: ranchera

country (not comparable)

1. From or in the countryside or connected with it.
2. Of or connected to country music.

• French: de la campagne, de province, de la contrée, campagnard
• German: ländlich, Land-
• Italian: di campagna, rurale
• Portuguese: rural, campestre, do campo, grosseiro
• Russian: дереве́нский
• Spanish: campo, campesino, campestre, provincia, provinciano