province

Everyday

1. A large part of a country with its own local government, like Ontario in Canada. tree →
2. the provinces (UK, plural) All of a country outside the capital city. tree →
3. An area of knowledge or responsibility: «Cooking is Dad's province.» tree →
4. (church) A group of dioceses under an archbishop. tree →

In the lessons

In geography Canada has ten provinces and three territories; Ireland has four old provinces (Leinster, Munster, Connacht, Ulster); South Africa and China have provinces. Phrases: «the province of Quebec», «in the provinces», «outside my province».

Examples

• Canada is made up of provinces and territories. tree →
• Ontario is the most populous province of Canada. tree →
• Ireland has four provinces, including Munster. tree →
• My cousins live out in the provinces, far from London. tree →
• Gardening is Granny's province. tree →
• That question is outside my province, ask the science teacher. tree →
• The archbishop leads the church province. tree →
• Long, long ago there was a large plain called Adachigahara, in the province of Mutsu in Japan. tree →

Note

Countable. Adjective «provincial» (of a province; also, rudely, narrow-minded or not like the big city). Canada: «provinces»; Australia: «states»; USA: «states». Northern Ireland is sometimes called «the Province».

In Jewish tradition

A large district of a kingdom, ruled for the king. In the Prophets and Writings the Babylonian and Persian empires, and Israel's kingdom, are divided into provinces, and Jerusalem is called a "princess among the provinces."

Interpretation. Sefer Yetzirah says God set the letters like provinces in battle order. Readers see this as showing that creation is arranged like an army ready to act.

Examples

• He made these, as it were provinces, and arranged them as in order of battle for warfare. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon. (Writings DAN.3.30, JPS 1917) tree →
• She that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! (Writings LAM.1.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• So these went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them. (Prophets 1KI.20.19, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable. Adjective «provincial» (of a province; also, rudely, narrow-minded or not like the big city). Canada: «provinces»; Australia: «states»; USA: «states». Northern Ireland is sometimes called «the Province».