land

/lænd/
nounBeginner
What It Really Means
to recover from a difficult situation successfully
Literal Meaning
to physically land on one's feet
Literal Breakdown
landto bring to a stop on the ground+on one's feetstanding upright
Mental Image
A person who has fallen but managed to stand up quickly, symbolizing resilience.
When to Use
After losing his job, he landed on his feet by starting his own business.
Cultural Note
This idiom is common in English and emphasizes the ability to bounce back from setbacks.
general

the solid part of the earth's surface not covered by water

We walked across the dry land to reach the river.

We crossed the dry ground to get to the river.

💡

Can refer to both dry ground and areas used for specific purposes (e.g., farmland, wasteland).

political

a country or territory owned or controlled by a ruler or government

The king ruled over his land for 50 years.

The king governed his territory for half a century.

💡

Often used in historical or political contexts.

general

to bring a ship, plane, or spacecraft to a stop on land

The pilot landed the plane safely.

The pilot brought the plane to a stop on the runway.

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Can also mean to bring something to a final destination.

Collocations

land onto arrive at a place, especially by airland ofa country or region associated with somethinglandlockedsurrounded by land with no coastline

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

land grabphrase
the act of taking land by force or unfair means
land of opportunityphrase
a place where people can succeed through hard work
land on one's feetidiom
to recover from a difficult situation successfully

💡Pro Tip

Noun vs. Verb

Remember that 'land' can be both a noun (e.g., 'the land') and a verb (e.g., 'to land a plane').

Gold Rule

Context Matters

The meaning of 'land' depends heavily on context. Pay attention to whether it's used as a noun or verb.

📖Word Origin

Old English 'land,' from Proto-Germanic 'landą,' meaning 'land, territory.' Related to Old Norse 'land' and Old Frisian 'lend.'

📝Usage Notes

Can be used as both a noun and a verb. As a verb, it often refers to bringing something to a stop on land.

Word Breakdown

land
ground or territory
root
English Dictionary