1 [mass noun] the part of the earth’s surface that is not covered by water:the reptiles lay their eggs on landafter four weeks at sea we sighted land
[as modifier] living or travelling on land rather than in water or the air:a land force
an area of ground, especially in terms of its ownership or use:he bought 360 acres of landwaste land (lands)measures to reduce logging on federal lands
(the land) ground or soil used as a basis for agriculture:my family had worked the land for many years
(the land) rural areas and the rural way of life:many people are leaving the land and going to work in the city
[count noun]South African an area fenced off for cultivation; a field.
[from Dutch land 'piece of ground']
2a country or state:the valley is one of the most beautiful in the landthe lands of the Middle East
[in combination] a particular sphere of activity or group of people:the blunt, charmless climate of techno-land
a conceptual area:you’re living in a fantasy land
3the space between the rifling grooves in a gun.
ზმნა
Universal
1 [with object] put (someone or something) on land from a boat:he landed his troops at Hastings
[no object] go ashore; disembark:the marines landed at a small jetty
bring (a fish) to land with a net or rod:he landed 43 on Saturday
informal succeed in obtaining or achieving (something desirable), especially in the face of competition:she landed the starring role in a new film
2 [no object] come down through the air and rest on the ground or another surface:we will shortly be landing at Gatwicka fly landed on Tom’s nose
[with object] bring (an aircraft or spacecraft) to the ground or the surface of water in a controlled way:the co-pilot landed the plane
reach the ground after falling or jumping:he leapt over the fence and landed nimbly on his feet
[with adverbial of place] (of an object) come to rest after falling or being thrown:the plate landed in her lap
3 [no object] informal (of something undesirable or unexpected) arrive suddenly:there were more problems than ever landing on her desk
4 [with object] (land someone in) informal cause someone to be in (a difficult situation):his exploits always landed him in trouble
(land someone with) inflict (an unwelcome task or difficult situation) on someone:the mistake landed the company with a massive bill
5 [with object] informal inflict (a blow) on someone:I won the fight without landing a single punch
how the land lies
British what the situation is:let’s keep it to ourselves until we see how the land lies
in the land of the living
humorous alive or awake:the doctor was amazed to find me still in the land of the livingif the general’s in the land of the living, I’d like a word
the land of the free
the United States of America:in the land of the free virtually anyone is free to wield a gun
the land of Nod
humorous a state of sleep:the tape is guaranteed to send babies and toddlers to the land of Nod
[punningly, with biblical allusion to the place name Nod (Gen. 4:16)]
land (or fall) on one's feet
have good luck or success:after some ups and downs he has finally landed on his feet
live off the land
live on whatever food one can obtain by hunting, gathering, or subsistence farming:George used the fieldcraft taught to him by his father to live off the land
land up
reach a place or situation:the ship landed up on the south coast of DevonI landed up in prison
land up with
end up with (an unwelcome situation):I landed up with three broken ribs