France (fr ns) A country of western Europe on the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel. It was settled by the Franks after the retreat of the Romans, who had conquered Celtic Gaul in 58-51 b.c. Charlemagne made it the center of his Empire of the West after a.d. 800. In the Middle Ages France was split into numerous fiefdoms and kingdoms, most of which were incorporated into the royal domain by the time of Louis XI (reigned 1461-1483). Widespread poverty and discontent led to the French Revolution (1789) and the end of the monarchy. The First Republic (1792-1804) was followed by the First Empire (1804-1815) under Napoleon Bonaparte, a period of constitutional monarchy (1814-1848), and a succession of republics broken by the Second Empire (1852-1870) under Louis Napoleon. Much of France was occupied by Germany in World War II. Paris is the capital and the largest city. Population: 63,700,000. |   |
France (frns, frä s), Anatole Pen name of Jacques Anatole François Thibault. 1844-1924. French critic and writer of sophisticated, often satirical short stories and novels, including Penguin Island (1908). He won the 1921 Nobel Prize for literature. |
France [frɑːns]
n
(Placename) a republic in W Europe, between the English Channel, the Mediterranean, and the Atlantic: the largest country wholly in Europe; became a republic in 1793 after the French Revolution and an empire in 1804 under Napoleon; reverted to a monarchy (1815-48), followed by the Second Republic (1848-52), the Second Empire (1852-70), the Third Republic (1870-1940), and the Fourth and Fifth Republics (1946 and 1958); a member of the European Union. It is generally flat or undulating in the north and west and mountainous in the south and east. Official language: French. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: euro. Capital: Paris. Pop.: 59 090 000 (2001 est.). Area: (including Corsica) 551 600 sq. km (212 973 sq. miles) Related adjs French, Gallic
France2
n
(Biographies / France, Anatole (1844-1924) M, French, WRITING: novelist, WRITING: short-story writer, WRITING: critic) Anatole (anatɔl), real name Anatole François Thibault. 1844-1924, French novelist, short-story writer, and critic. His works include Le Crime de Sylvestre Bonnard (1881), L'Île des Pingouins (1908), and La Révolte des anges (1914): Nobel prize for literature 1921
France
a fondness or prejudice for French life, manners, etc.
an obsession with France and things French.
Gallophil.
a hatred of France or things French. Also called Gallophobia.
a French expression used in English, as outré.
a person, not French, who loves France. Also called Francophile.
Francophobia.
a form of mild republicanism in France, 1791-1793, led by natives of the Gironde. — Girondist, n., adj.
the traits, customs, and culture of the Normans. — Normanist, n. — Normanic, adj.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  France - a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europeapache dance - a violent fast dance in French vaudeville (an apache is a member of the French underworld) Agincourt - a battle in northern France in which English longbowmen under Henry V decisively defeated a much larger French army in 1415 Battle of the Marne, Belleau Wood, Chateau-Thierry, Marne River - a World War I battle in northwestern France where the Allies defeated the Germans in 1918 Chalons, Chalons-sur-Marne - the battle in which Attila the Hun was defeated by the Romans and Visigoths in 451 battle of Crecy, Crecy - the first decisive battle of the Hundred Years' War; in 1346 the English under Edward III defeated the French under Philip of Valois Dunkerque, Dunkirk - an amphibious evacuation in World War II (1940) when 330,000 Allied troops had to be evacuated from the beaches in northern France in a desperate retreat under enemy fire battle of Ivry, Ivry, Ivry la Bataille - a battle (1590) in which the Huguenots under Henry IV defeated the Catholics under the duke of Mayenne Argonne, Argonne Forest, Meuse-Argonne, Meuse-Argonne operation, Meuse, Meuse River - an American operation in World War I (1918); American troops under Pershing drove back the German armies which were saved only by the armistice on November 11 siege of Orleans, Orleans - a long siege of Orleans by the English was relieved by Joan of Arc in 1429 battle of Poitiers, Poitiers - the battle in 1356 in which the English under the Black Prince defeated the French Battle of Rocroi, Rocroi - a battle in the Thirty Years' War (1643); the French defeated the Spanish invaders battle of St Mihiel, Saint-Mihiel, St Mihiel - a battle in the Meuse-Argonne operation in World War I (1918); the battle in which American troops launched their first offensive in France battle of Soissons-Reims, battle of the Aisne, battle of the Chemin-des-Dames, Soissons - a battle in World War I (May 1918); the Germans tried to attack before the American numbers were too great to defeat; the tactical success of the Germans proved to be a strategic failure battle of Tertry, Tertry - a battle in France in 687 among the descendants of Clovis battle of Valmy, Valmy - the French defeated the Austrian and Prussian troops in 1792 (with a famous cannonade from the French artillery) battle of Verdun, Verdun - a battle in World War I (1916); in some of the bloodiest fighting in World War I the German offensive was stopped French Revolution - the revolution in France against the Bourbons; 1789-1799 Bastille - a fortress built in Paris in the 14th century and used as a prison in the 17th and 18th centuries; it was destroyed July 14, 1789 at the start of the French Revolution Maginot Line - a fortification built before World War II to protect France's eastern border; initially considered to be impregnable, it was easily overrun by the German army in 1940 maisonette, maisonnette - a small house oriflamme - a red or orange-red flag used as a standard by early French kings rue - (French) a street or road in France Palace of Versailles, Versailles - a palace built in the 17th century for Louis XIV southwest of Paris near the city of Versailles jeu d'esprit - a witty comment or writing French - the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France bonheur - (French) happiness and good humor haute cuisine - (French) an elaborate and skillful manner of preparing food nouvelle cuisine - a school of French cooking that uses light sauces and tries to bring out the natural flavors of foods instead of making heavy use of butter and cream bureau de change - (French) an establishment where you can exchange foreign money FLNC, National Liberation Front of Corsica - a terrorist group formed in 1976 to work for Corsican independence; attacks on Corsica are aimed at sabotaging public infrastructure and symbols of colonialism |
| 2. |  France - French writer of sophisticated novels and short stories (1844-1924) |
France noun see administrative regions
Translations
France [ˈfrɑːns] n → la France
in France → en France
to France → en France
He's from France → Il est français.
in France → en France
to France → en France
He's from France → Il est français.
France
n → Frankreich nt
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