Spain

[speyn]

noun

1. a kingdom in SW Europe. Including the Balearic and Canary islands, 194,988 sq. mi. (505,019 sq. km). Madrid.

Spain

/ speɪn /

noun

1. Spanish name: España. a kingdom of SW Europe, occupying the Iberian peninsula between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic: a leading European power in the 16th century, with many overseas possessions, esp in the New World; became a republic in 1931; under the fascist dictatorship of Franco following the Civil War (1936–39) until his death in 1975; a member of the European Union. It consists chiefly of a central plateau (the Meseta), with the Pyrenees and the Cantabrian Mountains in the north and the Sierra Nevada in the south. Official language: Castilian Spanish, with Catalan, Galician, and Basque official regional languages. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: euro. Capital: Madrid. Pop: 47 370 542 (2013 est). Area: 504 748 sq km (194 883 sq miles)

Spain

1. Constitutional monarchy in southwestern Europe, consisting of the Spanish mainland (bordered to the northwest by France and to the west by Portugal), the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Its capital and largest city is Madrid.

During the sixteenth century, Spain was the greatest world power. Its success was based partially on the riches it acquired in the New World (see Latin America and South America).

In the Spanish-American War, the United States defeated Spain, freed Cuba from Spanish colonial rule, and seized a number of former Spanish colonies, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

The Spanish monarchy was fully restored in 1975 after Franco's death. He had been dictator (see dictatorship) for thirty-six years.

Under King Juan Carlos, Spain has established a political democracy and has been integrated into the European community.

Bullfighting is a popular spectator sport in Spain.

The destruction of the Spanish Armada, a fleet sent to conquer England in 1588, marked the beginning of the decline of Spanish power.

Basque separatists have carried out many acts of terrorism against Spain.

In the Spanish Civil War, conservatives led by General Francisco Franco overthrew the second Spanish Republic.

Other Word Forms

• anti-Spain adjective
• pro-Spain adjective

Idioms and Phrases

see castles in the air (Spain).

Example Sentences

These once held olive oil imported from Spain, North Africa and the Middle East and were discarded here after the oil was decanted at a nearby port.

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After immigrating to Australia from the Basque Country, a region that straddles the border between France and Spain, the working-class house painter took roughly 13 years to build the family’s home.

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The country had gained its independence from Spain in 1821, spent a few years as an empire, and become a republic in 1824.

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However, figures for September released this week point to pickups in Germany, France and Spain, and economists anticipate a reading of 2.2% when data is published Wednesday.

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Droughts have hit countries around the globe from Spain to Syria this year and parts of the U.S., including farm-heavy North Carolina.

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