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   union

   /ˈjuːnɪən/

   noun

   • 1. the action of joining together or the fact of being joined together, especially in a political context: "he was opposed to closer political or economic union with Europe" Similar unificationunitingjoiningmergingmergerfusionfusingamalgamatingamalgamationjunctioncoalitioncombiningcombinationconsolidationconjunctionconfederationfederationintegrationsynthesisblendblendingmixtureminglingcomminglinginformal:mash-upOpposite separationparting
   • ▪ the uniting of the English and Scottish crowns in 1603, of the English and Scottish parliaments in 1707, or of the parliaments of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801. historical
   • ▪ a state of harmony or agreement: "they live in perfect union" Similar unityaccordunisonunanimityharmonyconcordagreementconcurrenceundividedness
   • ▪ a marriage: "their union had not been blessed with children" Similar marriageweddingpartnershippairingalliancematchcompactaffiliationcivil partnershipcouplingintercoursematingformal:coitioncoituscopulationOpposite divorceannulment
   • 2. a society or association formed by people with a common interest or purpose: "members of the Students' Union" Similar associationallianceleagueguildcoalitionconsortiumcombinesyndicateconfederationfederationconfederacypartnershipfraternitybrotherhoodsororitysocietyclubgrouporganizationtrade union
   • ▪ a trade union: "the National Farmers' Union"
   • ▪ a number of parishes consolidated for the purposes of administering the Poor Laws. historical British
   • ▪ an association of independent Churches, especially Congregational or Baptist, for purposes of cooperation. British
   • 3. a political unit consisting of a number of states or provinces with the same central government.
   • ▪ the United States, especially from its founding by the original thirteen states in 1787–90 to the secession of the Confederate states in 1860–1: "California is the fastest growing state in the Union when it comes to urban encroachment"
   • ▪ the northern states of the United States which opposed the seceding Confederate states in the American Civil War.
   • ▪ South Africa, especially before it became a republic in 1961.
   • 4. the set that comprises all the elements (and no others) contained in any of two or more given sets.
   • ▪ the operation of forming a union.
   • 5. a joint or coupling for pipes.
   • 6. (in South Asia) a local administrative unit comprising several rural villages.
   • 7. a part of a flag with an emblem symbolizing national union, typically occupying the upper corner next to the staff.
   • 8. a fabric made of two or more different yarns, typically cotton and linen or silk.

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from ecclesiastical Latin unio(n-) ‘unity’, from Latin unus ‘one’.

   Scrabble Points: 5

   • U

     1

   • N

     1

   • I

     1

   • O

     1

   • N

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