name
Europe
YRUHP
name
1
The continent bordered by the Atlantic to the west, Asia to the east (roughly along the Urals), and the Mediterranean to the south.
"They spent the summer backpacking around Europe."
"Europe has dozens of distinct languages packed into a relatively small area."
2
Short for the European Union as a political and economic bloc.
"The new trade rules were set by Europe, not by individual governments."
"Europe imposed fresh sanctions on the regime."
How to Use Europe
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe continent, or loosely, the European Union as a political body.
Common mistake
"Europe" the continent and "Europe" meaning the EU are not the same thing — the UK, Switzerland, and Norway are in Europe but not the EU.
Common pairings
mainland Europe
Eastern Europe
across Europe
Word Forms
Europes plural
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They spent the summer backpacking around _____.
Etymology
From Latin Eurōpa, borrowed from Greek Eurṓpē — originally the name of a princess in Greek myth carried off by Zeus.