heartland
/ˈhɑːtlænd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɑːrtlænd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhärt-ˌland/ (ame, mw)
heartland — noun
- heartlandsingular
- heartlandsplural
1. the inland zone at the middle of a nation or large region, often felt to carry i
the inland zone at the middle of a nation or large region, often felt to carry its main identity.
Shanti grew up in the agricultural heartland of northern India.
collocation: agricultural / industrial / rural heartland
Tornadoes regularly sweep across the heartland of the United States.
the heartland of + [country] pattern
Andrei spent two summers cycling through the green heartland of Romania.
The Volga river flows through the historical heartland of Russia.
Felipe's grandparents still farm a small plot in the rural heartland of Brazil.
- interior
geographic term for inland area, neutral about cultural importance
- core region
more technical, used in geography or economics
- hinterland
inland area behind a coast or city; lacks the cultural-importance sense of heartland
- periphery
outer or marginal zone of a country or region
- border region
edge area, often less culturally central
文法句型
the heartland of [region/country]
用法筆記
Frequently appears in geographic or political writing about a country's defining central zone. Subject is usually a country, continent, or large region; the heartland is treated as singular even when describing a broad area.
常見錯誤
2. the area where a particular industry, political party, or activity is strongest
the area where a particular industry, political party, or activity is strongest or has the deepest support.
Detroit was once the heartland of the American car industry.
the heartland of + [industry]
The Labour Party lost several seats in its traditional working-class heartland.
collocation: traditional / working-class / electoral heartland
Leo opened his coffee shop in the heartland of the city's tech scene.
Bordeaux remains the heartland of French wine production.
Folake reports from Lagos, the cultural heartland of West African music.
- stronghold
emphasises defence or political dominance
- bastion
formal; suggests a last remaining stronghold of something
- hub
modern, neutral term for a centre of activity; smaller in scale
- marginal area
place where the activity or party has weak support
文法句型
the heartland of [activity/party/industry]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense requires a named activity, industry, or political force ("heartland of jazz / mining / the Republican party"). Sense 1 refers to a country's overall central character without such modifier.