world

1the world[singular]the earth, with all its countries, peoples, and natural featuresto sail around the worldtraveling (all over) the worlda map of the worldFrench is spoken in many parts of the world.Which is the largest city in the world?He's the world's highest paid entertainer.a meeting of world leaderscampaigning for world peace

2[countable,usually singular]a particular part of the earth; a particular group of countries or people; a particular period of history and the people of that periodthe Arab worldthe English-speaking worldthe industrialized and developing worldsthe ancient/modern worldsee alsothe First World,the New World,the Old World,the Third World

another planet

3[countable]a planet like the earthThere may be other worlds out there.

type of life

4[countable]the people or things belonging to a particular group or connected with a particular interest, job, etc.the animal/plant/insect worldthe world of fashionstars from the sporting and artistic worlds

5[usually singular](usually used with an adjective)everything that exists of a particular kind; a particular kind of life or existencethe natural world(= animals, plants, minerals, etc.)They are a couple in the real world as well as in the movie.The island is a world of brilliant colors and dramatic sunsets.They had little contact with the outside world(= people and places that were not part of their normal life).

person's life

6[singular]a person's environment, experiences, friends and family, etc.Parents are the most important people in a child's world.When his wife died, his entire world was turned upside down.

society

7[singular]our society and the way people live and behave; the people in the worldWe live in a rapidly changing world.He's too young to understand the ways of the world.The whole world was waiting for news of the astronauts.She felt that the world was against her.The eyes of the world are on the president.

8the world[singular]a way of life where possessions and physical pleasures are important, rather than spiritual valuesmonks and nuns renouncing the worldsee alsoold-world

human existence

9[singular]the state of human existencethis world and the next (= life on earth and existence after death)

used to emphasize what you are sayingThere's nothing in the world I'd like more than to visit New York.Don't rush—we've got all the time in the world.You look as if you haven't got a care in the world!