china

Pluralchinas (some meanings)

1. 1
   proper noun · Chinauncountable

   A large country in East Asia. Since 1949 it has been the People's Republic of China.

   Many of the toys in this store were made in China.

   She wants to visit China to see the Great Wall.

2. 2
   noununcountable

   Plates, cups, and bowls made of a fine, hard, white kind of baked clay.

   We only use the china when family comes for dinner.

   Please be careful with the china when you wash it.

   Similarporcelain, dishes, crockery

   Note
3. 3
   noununcountable

   Another name for porcelain, a hard, white material made from fine clay that lets a little light through.

   My sister keeps a china doll on her shelf.

   The little cup is made of china, so it can chip if you drop it.

   Similarporcelain

   Note
4. 4
   proper noun · Chinauncountable

   The culture and land in East Asia around three big rivers, seen as a whole across all its ruling families.

   In class we read folk tales from ancient China.

   Tea has been part of daily life in China for a very long time.

   Note
5. 5
   proper noun · Chinauncountable

   The part of China on the Asian mainland, not counting Hong Kong and Macau.

   She lives in Hong Kong but often travels to China for work.

   Food is cheaper across the border in China than in Hong Kong.

   Note
6. 6
   proper noun · Chinahistoricaluncountable

   Any of the old empires that ruled the land of today's China, up until the early 1900s.

   Long ago, China was ruled by emperors.

   Ships from Europe sailed to China to buy tea and silk.

   Note
7. 7
   proper noun · Chinahistoricaluncountable

   The Republic of China before 1949. Some people kept using the name for it until the early 1970s.

   In the 1930s, China fought a long war against Japan.

   In 1945, China helped start the United Nations.

   Note
8. 8
   proper noun · Chinauncountable

   The single Chinese nation in the idea of one China, which says that by law there is only one.

   Both governments said there is only one China, but they could not agree on who rules it.

   The country opened an embassy in Beijing after it accepted the idea of one China.

   Note
9. 9
   noundialectalAustraliaCockneySouth Africacountable

   A friend or mate. It comes from slang in which china plate rhymes with mate.

   How are you doing, my old china?

   Tom has been my china since we were kids.

   Similarmate

   Note
10. 10
    nouncountable

    A kind of cymbal on a drum set, made in a style that comes from Chinese cymbals.

    The drummer hit the china at the end of the song.

    Chinas make a loud, sharp sound.

    Note
11. 11
    nouncountable

    A short name for China rose, which is used for several kinds of flower.

    She planted a pink China by the garden gate.

    Our old China still has flowers in late fall.

    Note
12. 12
    noununcountable

    The root of a plant called Smilax china, mostly used as a medicine.

    The healer made a medicine by boiling dried china in water.

    She bought some china at the herb shop to make a tonic.

    Note

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