Meaning

• A region of the earth or of a continent; a district or country.

• An administrative subdivision of certain countries, including Canada and China.

• (Roman history) An area outside Italy which is administered by a Roman governor.

• An area under the jurisdiction of an archbishop, typically comprising a number of adjacent dioceses.

• An area under the jurisdiction of a provincial within a monastic order.

• (in plural, chiefly with definite article) The parts of a country outside its capital city.

• An area of activity, responsibility or knowledge; the proper concern of a particular person or concept.