a nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory 国;国家 the country's increasingly precarious economic position. 该国越来越不稳定的经济地位。 ■(the country)the people of a nation 国民;人民;民众 the whole country took to the streets. 全国人民走上街头。 ■the land of a person's birth or citizenship 祖国;故土;国土 both my native and adopted countries are at war with yours. 生我和养我的国家都在和你的国家交战。
(常作 the country)districts and small settlements outside large towns, cities, or the capital 乡村;乡下;城郊 the airfield is right out in the country. 飞机场就设在郊区。 [as modifier]a country lane. 乡村小路。
[mass noun]an area or region with regard to its physical features (按地理特点划分的)地区;区域 a tract of wild country. 一片荒凉的地方。 ■a region associated with a particular person, especially a writer, or with a particular work (与某人,尤其是某作家或某作品相关的)地区;区域 an old mansion in Stevenson's ‘Kidnapped’ country. 史蒂文森的《诱拐》中的乡间旧宅。
常用词组 across country
not keeping to roads 不沿着大路;穿过田野 their route was across country, through fields of corn. 他们没走大路,是穿过棉花地走的。
go (或 appeal) to the country
(Brit.)test public opinion by dissolving Parliament and holding a general election (英)(解散议会)举行普选
line of country
(Brit.)a subject in which a person is skilled or knowledgeable (英)精通的领域
语源
Middle English: from Old French cuntree, from medieval Latin contrata (terra) ('land) lying opposite', from Latin contra 'against, opposite'