Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - world

(worlds) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. The world is the planet that we live on. It’s a beautiful part of the world... The satellite enables us to calculate their precise location anywhere in the world. N-SING: the N 2. The world refers to all the people who live on this planet, and our societies, institutions, and ways of life. The world was, and remains, shocked... He wants to show the world that anyone can learn to be an ambassador. ...his personal contribution to world history. N-SING: the N, N n 3. You can use world to describe someone or something that is one of the most important or significant of its kind on earth. Abroad, Mr Bush was seen as a world statesman... China has once again emerged as a world power... ADJ: ADJ n 4. You can use world in expressions such as the Arab world, the western world, and the ancient world to refer to a particular group of countries or a particular period in history. Athens had strong ties to the Arab world. ...the developing world... N-SING: the supp N 5. Someone’s world is the life they lead, the people they have contact with, and the things they experience. His world seemed so different from mine... I lost my job and it was like my world collapsed... N-COUNT: oft poss N 6. You can use world to refer to a particular field of activity, and the people involved in it. The publishing world had certainly never seen an event quite like this. N-SING: the N, with supp, oft N of n 7. You can use world to refer to a particular group of living things, for example the animal world, the plant world, and the insect world. = kingdom N-SING: the n N 8. A world is a planet. He looked like something from another world... N-COUNT 9. see also brave new world, New World, real world, Third World 10. If you say that two people or things are worlds apart, you are emphasizing that they are very different from each other. Intellectually, this man and I are worlds apart... PHRASE: usu v-link PHR, oft PHR from n c darkgreen]emphasis 11. If you say that someone has the best of both worlds, you mean that they have only the benefits of two things and none of the disadvantages. Her living room provides the best of both worlds, with an office at one end and comfortable sofas at the other. PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR 12. If you say that something has done someone the world of good or a world of good, you mean that it has made them feel better or improved their life. (INFORMAL) A sleep will do you the world of good. PHRASE: V inflects 13. You use in the world to emphasize a statement that you are making. The saddest thing in the world is a little baby nobody wants... He had no one in the world but her. PHRASE: oft PHR after superl c darkgreen]emphasis 14. You can use in the world in expressions such as what in the world and who in the world to emphasize a question, especially when expressing surprise or anger. What in the world is he doing?... PHRASE: quest PHR c darkgreen]emphasis 15. You can use in an ideal world or in a perfect world when you are talking about things that you would like to happen, although you realize that they are not likely to happen. In a perfect world, there would be the facilities and money to treat every sick person. = ideally PHRASE: PHR with cl 16. If you say that someone is a man of the world or a woman of the world, you mean that they are experienced and know about the practical or social aspects of life, and are not easily shocked by immoral or dishonest actions. Look, we are both men of the world, would anyone really mind? ...an elegant, clever and tough woman of the world. PHRASE: man/woman inflects 17. If you say that something is out of this world, you are emphasizing that it is extremely good or impressive. (INFORMAL) These new trains are out of this world. PHRASE: v-link PHR c darkgreen]emphasis 18. You can use the outside world to refer to all the people who do not live in a particular place or who are not involved in a particular situation. For many, the post office is the only link with the outside world... PHRASE 19. If you think the world of someone, you like them or care about them very much. I think the world of him, but something tells me it’s not love... We were really close. We thought the world of each other. PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n 20. not be the end of the world: see end the world is your oyster: see oyster on top of the world: see top