Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

3 ADJ [ADJ n, in names] United is used in the names of countries which are made up from several states or smaller countries. □  …the United States of America.

Uni t|ed Ki ng|dom ◆◇◇ N‑PROPER The United Kingdom is the official name for the country consisting of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Uni t|ed Na |tions ◆◆◇ N‑PROPER The United Nations is an organization which most countries belong to. Its role is to encourage international peace, co-operation, and friendship.

u nit sa les N‑PLURAL Unit sales refers to the number of individual items that a company sells. [BUSINESS ] □  Unit sales of T-shirts increased 6%.

u nit tru st (unit trusts ) N‑COUNT A unit trust is an organization which invests money in many different types of business and which offers units for sale to the public as an investment. You can also refer to an investment of this type as a unit trust . [BRIT , BUSINESS ] in AM, use mutual fund

unity ◆◇◇ /juː n I ti/

1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft adj N ] Unity is the state of different areas or groups being joined together to form a single country or organization. □  There is support for economic unity in trade and industry to promote growth and prosperity. □  …German unity.

2 N‑UNCOUNT When there is unity , people are in agreement and act together for a particular purpose. □ [+ of ] …a renewed unity of purpose. □  Speakers at the rally mouthed sentiments of unity. □  The choice was meant to create an impression of party unity.

Univ also Univ. Univ is a written abbreviation for university which is used especially in the names of universities. □  …the Wharton School, Univ. of Pennsylvania.

uni|ver|sal /juː n I vɜː ^r s ^ə l/ (universals )

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is universal relates to everyone in the world or everyone in a particular group or society. □  The insurance industry has produced its own proposals for universal health care. □  The desire to look attractive is universal. ●  uni|ver|sal|ity /juː n I vɜː ^r sæ l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] I have been amazed at the universality of our experiences, whatever our sex or age.

2 ADJ Something that is universal affects or relates to every part of the world or the universe. □  …universal diseases.

3 N‑COUNT A universal is a principle that applies in all cases or a characteristic that is present in all members of a particular class. □  There are no economic universals.

u ni|ve r|sal ba nk (universal banks ) N‑COUNT A universal bank is a bank that offers both banking and stockbroking services to its clients. [BUSINESS ] □  …universal banks offering a wide range of services.

uni|ver|sal|ly /juː n I vɜː ^r səli/

1 ADV [usu ADV -ed/adj] If something is universally believed or accepted, it is believed or accepted by everyone with no disagreement. □  …a universally accepted point of view. □  The scale of the problem is now universally recognised.

2 ADV [usu ADV adj, oft ADV with v] If something is universally true or available, it is true or available everywhere in the world or in all situations. □  The disadvantage is that it is not universally available.

uni|verse ◆◇◇ /juː n I vɜː ^r s/ (universes )

1 N‑COUNT The universe is the whole of space and all the stars, planets, and other forms of matter and energy in it. □  Early astronomers thought that our planet was the centre of the universe.

2 N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft with poss] If you talk about someone's universe , you are referring to the whole of their experience or an important part of it. □  Good writers suck in what they see of the world, re-creating their own universe on the page.