Britain — English Dictionary

Proper noun

1. The United Kingdom, a kingdom and country in Northern Europe including the island of Great Britain as well as Northern Ireland on the northeastern portion of the island of Ireland.

   Usage

   • broadly
   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   With the eclipse of Empire, and the emergence of America and Russia, it was inevitable that we would lose comparative power and influence—and to be sure we have been in relative economic decline since the middle of the nineteenth century (when we were still producing two thirds of the world's energy, and half its iron and cotton cloth and when per capita income in Britain was over twice that in Germany and one third greater than in France).

2. Great Britain, a large island (sometimes also including some of the surrounding smaller islands) off the north-west coast of Western Europe, made up of England, Scotland, and Wales; especially (but not exclusively) during antiquity.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Related words

   Battle of BritainBretonBritanniaBritishBritonBrittonBrittanyBroken Britainproto-BritainRoman Britain

3. England, Scotland and Wales in combination.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

4. Brittany.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

5. The British Isles.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • in-plural
   • Uncountable

6. The British state and its dominions and holdings; the British Empire.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Historical
   • Uncountable

7. The British Empire.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • in-plural
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   The name of 'Britain' […] ought to answer every purpose, or if that be thought too condensed, it may be pluralized into ‘The Britains’.

Noun

1. An ancient Briton.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Historical

   Examples

   The Britains’ struggles with the Scots and Picts [...] led to the Britains asking the Romans for help in constructing a great wall.

Adjective

1. Briton; British.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Related words

   Great Britainthe British Islesthe United Kingdom

   Examples

   [M]ightie Albion, father of the bold / And warlike people which the Britaine Iſlands hold.