land

I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German lant land, Middle Irish lann Date: before 12th century 1. a. the solid part of the surface of the earth; also a corresponding part of a celestial body (as the moon) b. ground or soil of a specified situation, nature, or quality <

dry land

> c. the surface of the earth and all its natural resources 2. a portion of the earth's solid surface distinguishable by boundaries or ownership <

bought land in the country

>: as a. country <

the finest cheese in all the land

> b. a rural area characterized by farming or ranching; also farming or ranching as a way of life <

wanted to move back to the land

> 3. realm, domain <

in the land of dreams

> — sometimes used in combination <

TV-land

> 4. the people of a country <

the land rose in rebellion

> 5. an area of a partly machined surface (as the inside of a gun barrel) that is left without machining • landless adjective • landlessness noun II. verb Date: 13th century transitive verb 1. to set or put on shore from a ship ; disembark 2. a. to set down after conveying b. to cause to reach or come to rest in a particular place <

never landed a punch

> c. to bring to a specified condition <

his wit landed him in trouble

> d. to bring (as an airplane) to a landing e. to complete successfully by landing <

the skater landed all her jumps

> 3. a. to catch and bring in (as a fish) b. gain, secure <

land a job

> <

landed the leading role

> intransitive verb 1. a. to go ashore from a ship ; disembark b. of a ship or boat to touch at a place on shore 2. a. to come to the end of a course or to a stage in a journey ; arrive <

took a wrong turn and landed on a dead-end street

> b. to come to be in a condition or situation <

landed in jail

> c. to strike or meet a surface (as after a fall) <

landed on my head

> d. to alight on a surface