land
land
Land (noun) means the solid, dry part of the Earth's surface, as opposed to sea or sky. Example: “After weeks at sea, they were relieved to spot land.”
noun
1
The solid, dry part of the Earth's surface, as opposed to sea or sky.
"After weeks at sea, they were relieved to spot land."
"Sea turtles lay their eggs on land before returning to the water."
"Some animals live only on land, while others spend their lives in water."
2
An area of ground owned, or a country or region.
"They inherited a plot of land from their grandfather."
"She dreamed of visiting the land of her ancestors."
"The family has farmed this land for several generations."
verb
1
To come down onto a surface, especially from the air or from water.
"The plane landed safely despite the storm."
"The seagull landed on the railing and watched us eat our chips."
"Please keep your seatbelt fastened until the aircraft has landed at the airport."
2
To succeed in getting or achieving something.
"She finally landed her dream job after months of interviews."
"He hopes to land a place on the university football team."
"Our small firm managed to land a big contract last week."
How to use land
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSolid ground, a country, or a plot of property — as a verb, to arrive somewhere or successfully achieve something.
Common pairings
land a job
dry land
a plot of land
land a plane
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Word forms
- Plural
- lands
- Third person singular
- lands
- Past tense
- landed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
After weeks at sea, they were relieved to spot _____.
Etymology
From Old English land, an ancient Germanic word found in nearly identical form across Dutch, German, and the Scandinavian languages.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for land
See all rhymes for land →Frequently asked questions
What does “land” mean?
The word “land” means the solid, dry part of the Earth's surface, as opposed to sea or sky. In plain terms, solid ground, a country, or a plot of property — as a verb, to arrive somewhere or successfully achieve something.
How do you pronounce “land”?
“Land” is pronounced land ([ɫeə̯nd] ~ [ɫɛə̯nd] in IPA).
How do you use “land” in a sentence?
Here is “land” used in a sentence: “After weeks at sea, they were relieved to spot land.”
What part of speech is “land”?
Depending on how it is used, “land” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “land” come from?
The word “land” comes from Old English. From Old English land, an ancient Germanic word found in nearly identical form across Dutch, German, and the Scandinavian languages.
Is “land” a common word?
“Land” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “land” have?
“Land” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the solid, dry part of the Earth's surface, as opposed to sea or sky.
What is the difference between land and ground?
"Land" is the broad term for the dry, solid part of the Earth's surface, often considered as territory, property, or the opposite of sea. "Ground" refers to the specific surface beneath your feet. You might own an acre of land, but you dig into the ground and walk across it.
What is the difference between land and soil?
Land is the whole solid surface of the Earth, including rock, hills, and terrain. Soil is only the loose upper layer of earth in which plants grow. Soil sits on top of land; land is the larger physical and geographic concept, while soil is a specific material within it.
What are the main types of land?
Land is often classified by use or terrain: arable or agricultural land for crops, pasture for grazing, forest, desert, and wetland. In legal and economic contexts it is also divided into residential, commercial, industrial, and public land. Each type reflects how the surface is shaped or how people use it.
What is the opposite of land?
In its core meaning, the opposite of land is sea or water, since land is the dry part of the Earth's surface as distinct from the oceans. When land is contrasted with the sky or air, those become its opposites instead, as with a plane moving between the air and land.
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