ɪsˈteɪt n. 1 a
property consisting of an
extensive area of
land usu.
with a
large house. 2
Brit. a
modern residential or
industrial area with integrated
design or
purpose. 3
all of a person's assets
and liabilities,
esp. at
death. 4 a property
where rubber,
tea, grapes,
etc., are cultivated. 5 (in full estate of
the realm) an
order or
class forming (or regarded as) a
part of the
body politic. 6
archaic or
literary a
state or
position in
life (the estate of
holy matrimony;
poor man's estate). 7 colloq. = estate
car. øestate
agent Brit. 1 a
person whose business is the
sale or
lease of buildings and land on
behalf of others. 2 the
steward of an estate. estate car Brit. a car with the
passenger area extended and combined with
space for luggage, usu. with an
extra door at the rear. estate
duty Brit.
hist. death duty levied on property. °Replaced in 1975 by capital
transfer tax and in 1986 by
inheritance tax. the
Three Estates Lords
Spiritual (the heads of the Church), Lords
Temporal (the peerage), and the
Commons. [ME f. OF estat (as STATUS)]