land

noun

• 1 [mass noun] the part of the earth’s surface that is not covered by water:the reptiles lay their eggs on land after 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 land waste 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 land the 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.

verb

• 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 Gatwick a 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