churchill
churchill — noun
1. John Churchill (1650–1722), 1st Duke of Marlborough, an English general and poli
John Churchill (1650–1722), 1st Duke of Marlborough, an English general and politician who won major battles in the War of the Spanish Succession and served as a key advisor to Queen Anne.
John Churchill led English troops to victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704.
Battle of Blenheim 1704
A tour guide in Oxfordshire showed visitors the grand rooms where John Churchill once lived.
Historians describe John Churchill as one of Britain's greatest military commanders.
The biography covers John Churchill's rise from a page boy to the Duke of Marlborough.
word family: Duke of Marlborough
- Duke of Marlborough
- War of the Spanish Succession
- military commander
- Blenheim Palace
Usage Note
Usually referred to by his title 'the Duke of Marlborough' in history texts. Learners will most often encounter this name in British history courses or books about European warfare from 1688 to 1714.
Common Mistakes
2. Lord Randolph Henry Spencer Churchill (1849–1895), a British politician who serv
Lord Randolph Henry Spencer Churchill (1849–1895), a British politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Leader of the House of Commons, and was the father of Sir Winston Churchill.
Lord Randolph Churchill gave a famous speech in the House of Commons about Irish home rule.
collocation: House of Commons speech
The museum display includes personal letters written by Lord Randolph to his young son Winston.
A student of Victorian politics wrote a report on Lord Randolph Churchill's tax reform plans.
Lord Randolph's health failed quickly, and he died at age forty-five.
- Lord Randolph Churchill
- Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Tory Democracy
Usage Note
Most commonly encountered as 'Lord Randolph Churchill'. Learners will typically see this name in biographies of Winston Churchill or in books about late 19th-century British politics.
Common Mistakes
3. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874–1965), British prime minister during
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874–1965), British prime minister during most of World War II, famous for his powerful speeches, his leadership in the fight against Nazi Germany, and his role in shaping the post-war world.
Churchill's radio speeches gave hope to millions of people across Europe during the war.
famous radio speeches
The tour guide showed visitors the underground War Rooms where Churchill directed military strategy.
collocation: Churchill + War Rooms
Churchill won the Nobel Prize in Literature for his historical writings and speeches.
Many visitors to London stop at the Churchill statue in Parliament Square to take photos.
Churchill coined the term 'Iron Curtain' in a famous speech about Soviet influence in Eastern Europe.
coined phrase: Iron Curtain
- Winston Churchill
- prime minister
- World War II
- Iron Curtain
- V-sign
- Nobel Prize in Literature
Usage Note
In English texts, almost always referred to simply as 'Churchill' when the context makes it clear. The full title 'Sir Winston Churchill' is used in formal writing. He also won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953 for his historical writings.
Common Mistakes
4. A major river in central Canada, about 1,600 km long, flowing east across northe
A major river in central Canada, about 1,600 km long, flowing east across northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba before emptying into Hudson Bay.
The Churchill River was a key canoe route for fur traders crossing Canada.
canoe route for fur traders
A geography student drew a map of the Churchill River flowing into Hudson Bay.
Two researchers studied the fish population in the Churchill River near the Manitoba border.
The Churchill River passes through forests and wetlands on its journey to the bay.
- Hudson Bay
- fur trade
- hydroelectric dams
- northern Saskatchewan
Usage Note
This river was formerly called the 'English River' and was renamed after John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough. Do not confuse it with the much shorter Churchill River in Labrador.
Common Mistakes
5. A river in south-central Labrador, Canada, about 335 km long, flowing east into
A river in south-central Labrador, Canada, about 335 km long, flowing east into Lake Melville and the Atlantic Ocean. It was formerly known as the Hamilton River.
The Churchill River in Labrador powers the huge Churchill Falls hydroelectric station.
collocation: Churchill Falls hydroelectric
Hikers in Labrador follow sections of the Churchill River to see remote waterfalls.
The lower Churchill River flows through deep canyons in the Labrador forest.
Engineers built a dam on the Churchill River to create one of Canada's largest power plants.
- Labrador
- Churchill Falls
- Lake Melville
- hydroelectricity
Usage Note
Do not confuse this river with the much longer Churchill River that flows through Saskatchewan and Manitoba into Hudson Bay. This Labrador river is sometimes referred to by its former name, the Hamilton River.
Common Mistakes
Etymology
The surname 'Churchill' comes from an Old English place name meaning 'church hill' (from Old English 'cyrice' meaning church, and 'hyll' meaning hill). The name originally referred to someone who lived near a hill where a church stood. It became a prominent English surname, most famously associated with the Churchill family of Blenheim Palace. The Duke of Marlborough (John Churchill) was the first major historical figure to carry the name to prominence, and it was later passed down to his descendant, Sir Winston Churchill.