impire

Noun

empire (plural empires)

1. A political state, often a monarchy, that has achieved a much greater current size than its initial size by conquering surrounding territories, cities or nations.
   • the Russian empire
2. A political unit ruled by an emperor or empress.
   • The Empire of Vietnam was a short-lived client state of Japan governing Vietnam between March 11 and August 23, 1945.
3. The group of states or other territories that owe allegiance to an imperial power (foreign to them), when distinguished from the native territory of that power; imperial possessions.
   • British people [...] continued to believe in empire. It was what gave Britain a unique role in the world, and in return Britain had drawn strength from its empire to enable it to survive two great wars that had wrecked so many of its competitors. Imperial management in the twentieth[…]2001 August 2, P. J. Marshall, The Cambridge Illustrated History of the British Empire, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 105
4. An expansive and powerful enterprise under the control of one person or group.
   • the McDonald's fast food empire
5. (Absolute) control, dominion, sway.
   • Each master whim maintains its hour of empire,
     And obstinately faithful to its dictates1781, Horace Walpole, The Mysterious Mother, Act 1 Scene 1

See all 23 meanings of empire