Heartland

//ˈhɑːtlənd// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Synonym of heart (“the seat of the affections or love”).
  2. 2
    the central region of a country or continent; especially a region that is important to a country or to a culture wordnet
  3. 3
    Also in the plural form heartlands:; The interior part of a region, especially when contrasted with coastal parts or when regarded as particularly powerful or significant.

    "[R]ound the Pole all three powers lay claim to enormous territories which in fact are largely uninhabited and unexplored: but the balance of power always remains roughly even, and the territory which forms the heartland of each super-state always remains inviolate."

  4. 4
    Also in the plural form heartlands:; In the geopolitical theory of the English geographer Halford John Mackinder (1861–1947): the interior of the world island comprising north-central Eurasia regarded as politically powerful. specifically
  5. 5
    Also in the plural form heartlands:; Residential districts and planning areas outside the city centre; the new towns of Singapore collectively. Singapore, in-plural, specifically

    "Those in the HDB [Housing and Development Board] heartland will be able to vote in the airconditioned comfort of their community centres […]"

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  1. 6
    Also in the plural form heartlands:; The states in the centre of the United States, chiefly regarded as politically and socially conservative; also, the people living in such states collectively. US, attributive, often, specifically
  2. 7
    Also in the plural form heartlands:; A region or part of a region particularly associated with or significant for a characteristic, such as an activity, a faith, support for a political party or other organization, etc.

    "The home counties are the Conservative heartland."

Etymology

From heart (“(figuratively) centre, core, essence”) + land.

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