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The World is a name for the planet Earth seen from a human point of view, as a place inhabited by human beings. It is often used to mean the sum of human experience and history, or the 'human condition' in general. There are approximately 6.6 billion (or 6600 million) people living on the Earth.

Especially in a metaphysical context, it can also refer to everything that makes up reality, the universe: see World (philosophy).

Etymology

In English, world is rooted in a compound of the obsolete words were, man, and eld, age; thus, its oldest meaning is "age or life of man".

Usage

By extension, a 'world' may refer to any planet or heavenly body, especially when it is thought of as inhabited.

In Christian theology, the 'World' connotes the corrupt, mortal order of society outside the community of believers (which is worldly as opposed to heavenly). It is often cited alongside the flesh and the Devil as a source of temptation that Christians should flee. The adjective worldly refers to world in this sense: 'mortal', 'mundane', 'devoted to the interests of this world'. See World (theology).

'World' can also be used attributively, as an adjective, to mean 'global', 'relating to the whole world', forming usages such as World community. See World (adjective).

By extension, a 'world' may refer to any planet or heavenly body, especially when it is thought of as inhabited.

In the study of religion and mythology, the Underworld is a place, often thought of as below the world, where souls go upon death. In some mythologies there were numerous underworlds, the choice of which depended on the soul's virtue or worth: the Elysian Fields are an example from Roman religion.

'World', when qualified, can also refer to a particular domain of human experience.

• The world of work describes paid work and the pursuit of a career, in all its social aspects, to distinguish it from home life and academic study.
• The fashion world describes the environment of the designers, fashion houses and consumers that make up the fashion industry.
• The New World is a part of the world discovered or colonized later than other parts; it usually refers to the American continents or to Australia. The Old World refers, by contrast, to the continents of Europe, Asia and north Africa.

Physical characteristics

Earth dimensions

Continents and population

See also

• Earth
• Planet
• World map
• Globe
• Universe

External links

• National Geographic maps
• "World". The World Factbook (2025 ed.). Central Intelligence Agency.

References

1. 'This is the excellent foppery of the world...' -- Shakespeare, King Lear, I.ii
2. David, Leonard (2006-02-24). "Planet's Population Hit 6.6 Billion Saturday". Live Science. Retrieved 2006-04-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
3. American Heritage Dictionary

• Universe
• World