noun pl. countries -·tries

1. an area of land; region wooded country
2. the whole land or territory of a nation or state
3. the people of a nation or state
4. the land of a person's birth or citizenship
5. land with farms and small towns; rural region, as distinguished from a city or town
6. country music

Etymology: ME contre < OFr contrée < VL *(regio) contrata, region lying opposite < L contra: see contra-

adjective

1. of, in, or from a rural district
2. characteristic of or like that of the country; rustic
3. Now Dial. of one's own country; native