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n. 1. a. A condition or mode of being, as with regard to circumstances: The office was in a state of confusion. b. A condition of being in a stage or form, as of structure, growth, or development: the fetal state. c. A mental or emotional condition: in a manic state. d. Informal A condition of excitement or distress: was in a state over going to the prom. e. Social position or rank. 2. Physics The condition of a physical system with regard to phase, form, composition, or structure: Ice is the solid state of water. 3. Ceremony; pomp: foreign leaders dining in state at the White House. 4. a. The supreme public power within a sovereign political entity: the state intervening in the economy. b. The sphere of supreme civil power within a given polity: matters of state. c. A specific kind of government: the socialist state. d. A body politic, especially one constituting a nation: the states of Eastern Europe. e. One of the more or less internally autonomous territorial and political units composing a federation under a sovereign government: the 48 contiguous states of the Union. adj. 1. Of or relating to a body politic or to an internally autonomous territorial or political unit constituting a federation under one government: a monarch dealing with state matters; the department that handles state security. 2. Owned and operated by a state: state universities. tr.v. stat·ed, stat·ing, states To set forth in words; declare. [Middle English, from Old French estat, from Latin status; see stā- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] stata·ble, statea·ble adj. Synonyms: state, condition, situation, status These nouns denote the mode of being or form of existence of a person or thing: an old factory in a state of disrepair; a jogger in healthy condition; a police officer responding to a dangerous situation; the uncertain status of the peace negotiations. |
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