India

¹

[ in-dee-uh ]

noun

1. Hindi Bha·rat [buh, -, r, uht]. Official_name Re·pub·lic of In·di·a [ri-, puhb, -lik , uh, v , in, -dee-, uh]. a republic in South Asia comprising 28 states and 8 union territories: formerly a British colony that gained independence 1947, becoming a parliamentary republic within the Commonwealth of Nations 1950. 1,269,219 square miles (3,287,263 square kilometers). : New Delhi.
2. Indian subcontinent ( def ).

India

²

[ in-dee-uh ]

noun

1. a word used in communications to represent the letter I.

India

/ ˈɪndɪə /

noun

1. a republic in S Asia: history dates from the Indus Valley civilization (3rd millennium bc ); came under British supremacy in 1763 and passed to the British Crown in 1858; nationalist movement arose under Gandhi (1869–1948); Indian subcontinent divided into Pakistan (Muslim) and India (Hindu) in 1947; became a republic within the Commonwealth in 1950. It consists chiefly of the Himalayas, rising over 7500 m (25 000 ft) in the extreme north, the Ganges plain in the north, the Thar Desert in the northwest, the Chota Nagpur plateau in the northeast, and the Deccan Plateau in the south. Official and administrative languages: Hindi and English; each state has its own language. Parts of the SE coast suffered badly in the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004. Religion: Hindu majority, Muslim minority. Currency: rupee. Capital: New Delhi. Pop: 1 220 800 359 (2013 est). Area: 3 268 100 sq km (1 261 813 sq miles) Hindi nameBharat
2. communications a code word for the letter i

India

1. Republic in southern Asia . Its capital is New Delhi , and its largest city is Calcutta .

Notes

Despite world disapproval, in 1998 India successfully conducted nuclear bomb tests. Pakistan did the same two weeks later. ( See Kashmir .)

The country is marked by conflict between the Hindu and Muslim populations and violence between castes .

India is the second most populous country in the world, after China .

British control of India began in 1757 and did not end until the dissolution of the British regime , or Raj, in 1947, when India was divided into India and Pakistan .

Mahatma Gandhi led the movement for Indian independence through passive resistance to British rule. He was killed by a fanatic in 1948.

Word History and Origins

Origin of India¹

First recorded before 1000; from Latin, from Greek Indía, equivalent to Ind(ós) “the Indus river” (from Old Persian Hindu, literally, “the river”; cognate with Sanskrit sindhu ) + -ia -ia

Origin of India²

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Household incomes in rural and urban India had begun to shrink from September 2019 owing to an ongoing economic slowdown.

From Quartz

After six weeks of beginning its Covid-19 vaccination drive for healthcare and frontline workers, India is all set to expand it to include the general population.

From Quartz

Byju’s, a learning app and the second most valuable startup in India, saw its user figures soar by a third, to nearly 70 million, when it offered its app for free following nationwide school closures in March of last year.

From MIT Technology Review

The Karves, who are both originally from India, began supporting D-Lab because it treats education and problem solving as vital components of social mobility.

From MIT Technology Review

While India is mostly a riparian country and several rivers and streams crisscross its surface, it’s still unusual for anyone but fishermen to own boats.

From Ozy

But a 2011 study of genetic evidence from 30 ethnic groups in India disproved this theory.

From The Daily Beast

Are the Brogpas of Kashmir in India really the last bastion of purebred Aryans?

From The Daily Beast

She has had clients from all over the world, including Ireland and India, who are drawn to her via word of mouth and her website.

From The Daily Beast

When he is awarded Player of the Match while competing for India in England, he is given champagne at the ceremony.

From The Daily Beast

Archrival India has money to throw around, and Iran and Russia are also exerting influence in the region.

From The Daily Beast

“Perhaps you do not speak my language,” she said in Urdu, the tongue most frequently heard in Upper India.

From Project Gutenberg

Greenlaw (Charles P.), his efforts in obtaining steam for India, 560.

From Project Gutenberg

Henry Hudson sailed from Gravesend on his first voyage for the discovery of a northwest passage to India.

From Project Gutenberg

In the next year his mother returned to India with both her children, and the boy's next two years were spent at and near Bombay.

From Project Gutenberg

They threw down their weapons with sullen obedience and the first great step towards the re-conquest of India was taken.

From Project Gutenberg