state

1 /steIt/ noun

1 CONDITION (C) the mental, emotional, or physical condition that someone or something is in at a particular time: Frankly I wouldn't trust his emotional state right now. | Water exists in three states: liquid, gaseous, and solid. | in a bad/good etc state: The roads are in a terrible state after the severe winter weather.

(+ of): The driver was in a state of shock. | not in a fit state to do sth (=not healthy enough or in a good enough condition): David's in no fit state to go out yet. | state of mind (=the way you feel): Ames' dismissal had left him in a distressed state of mind. | be in a good/bad state of repair (=not need repairing, or need repairing): The house we're buying is in a good state of repair. | a state of war (=officially fighting another country) —see also: state of emergency

2 GOVERNMENT also State (singular, uncountable) the government or political organization of a country: If elected, they want to cut back the powers of the state. | The State has allocated special funds for the emergency. | state employees/property/regulations etc: limits on salary increases for state workers | state-owned/state-funded/state-subsidized etc (=owned, paid for etc by the government): a state-funded community housing project | matters of state (=the business of the government)

—see also: police state, welfare state, —see race 1

3 A COUNTRY (C) a country considered as a political organization: democratic/totalitarian/one-party state (=with that type of government) | member state (=a country belonging to an international organization): NATO's member states

—see race 1

4 PART OF A COUNTRY also State (C) one of the areas with limited law-making powers that together make up a country controlled by a central government: Queensland is one of the states of Australia.

5 CEREMONY (U) the grand, official ceremonies and events connected with governments and rulers: state visit (=official visit to another country): the President's state visit to Moscow | state occasions (=special public events): Their band often plays at the White House on state occasions. | in state (=with a lot of comfort and public attention): The empress travelled in state with all her ladies.

—see also: lie in state lie 1 (12)

6 the States spoken a word meaning the US, used especially by someone when they are outside the US: Which part of the States would you suggest I should visit?

7 be in a state/get into a state spoken to be or become very nervous, anxious, or excited: Mom and Dad were in a state when I didn't come home until very late.

8 state of affairs a situation: I must say this is a very unsatisfactory state of affairs.

9 the state of play

a) the position reached in an activity or process that has not finished yet: What is the state of play in the current negotiations?

b) the score points that have been gained at one time in a sports game

2 verb (T)

1 to formally give a piece of information or your opinion, especially by saying it clearly: Please state your name and address. | The Government needs to clearly state its policy on UN intervention.

(+ (that)): The witness stated that he had not seen the woman before. | state the obvious (=say something that is completely unnecessary because it is already clear)

2 if a document, newspaper, ticket etc states information, it contains the information written clearly: The price of the tickets is stated on them.