civilization noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of civilization noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

civilization

noun
 
 
/ˌsɪvəlaɪˈzeɪʃn/
 
/ˌsɪvələˈzeɪʃn/
(British English also civilisation)
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  1.  
    [uncountable] a state of human society that is very developed and organized
    • the technology of modern civilization
    • The Victorians regarded the railways as bringing progress and civilization.
    Extra Examples
    • the benefits of modern civilization
    • to bring civilization to the outer reaches of the country
    • to reach a higher level of civilization
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • ancient
    • early
    • old
    • …
    verb + civilization
    • bring
    • build
    • create
    • …
    civilization + verb
    • collapse
    • flourish
    phrases
    • the beginnings of civilization
    • the dawn of civilization
    • civilization as we know it
    • …
    See full entry
  2.  
    [uncountable, countable] a society, its culture and its way of life during a particular period of time or in a particular part of the world
    • the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome
    • diseases that are common in Western civilization
    Extra Examples
    • The Minoan civilization of Crete used two forms of script.
    • the early civilizations of the Middle East and China
    • the early civilizations of Asia
    • the great civilizations of the past
    • a movement that aims to create a new civilization
    Topics Historyb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • ancient
    • early
    • old
    • …
    verb + civilization
    • bring
    • build
    • create
    • …
    civilization + verb
    • collapse
    • flourish
    phrases
    • the beginnings of civilization
    • the dawn of civilization
    • civilization as we know it
    • …
    See full entry
  3.  
    [uncountable] all the people in the world and the societies they live in, considered as a whole
    • Environmental damage threatens the whole of civilization.
    • Could this be the end of civilization as we know it?
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • ancient
    • early
    • old
    • …
    verb + civilization
    • bring
    • build
    • create
    • …
    civilization + verb
    • collapse
    • flourish
    phrases
    • the beginnings of civilization
    • the dawn of civilization
    • civilization as we know it
    • …
    See full entry
  4.  
    [uncountable] (often humorous) a place that offers you the comfortable way of life of a modern society
    • It's good to be back in civilization after two weeks in a tent!
See civilization in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee civilization in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: civilization

Nearby words

buttercup
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Plants and trees
C2
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