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Definition of heritage noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

heritage

noun
 
/ˈherɪtɪdʒ/
 
/ˈherɪtɪdʒ/
[usually singular]
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  1. the history, traditions, buildings and objects that a country or society has had for many years and that are considered an important part of its character
    • Spain’s rich cultural heritage
    • The building is part of our national heritage.
    Extra Examples
    • Folk songs are part of our common heritage.
    • It's a family-run business that traces its heritage back to 1884.
    • The city has an exceptionally rich heritage of historic buildings.
    • The country has a long and proud heritage.
    • The site has UNESCO World Heritage status.
    • an organization whose aim is to protect our heritage of wild plants
    Topics Historyc1, Family and relationshipsc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • glorious
    • precious
    • proud
    verb + heritage
    • have
    • claim
    • conserve
    heritage + noun
    • attraction
    • building
    • centre/​center
    See full entry
  2. a person's ethnic or religious background; the countries, cultures, religious groups, etc. that a person's parents or ancestors come from
    • What's your heritage?
    • Her heritage is Chinese and Vietnamese.
    • She made a conscious attempt to explore her Jewish heritage.
    see also dual heritage
    Extra Examples
    • He was the first mayor of black African heritage in a major European city.
    • I will not abandon my religious heritage.
    • This performance is a celebration of our heritage.
    • the 40 million or so Americans who claim an Irish heritage
  3. (in compounds) used to describe a traditional product, brand, type of animal or plant variety, especially one that is old-fashioned, rare and of high quality
    • Cotswold sheep are considered a heritage breed in Canada.
    • Heritage carrots are not always orange in colour.
    • They work with some of Britain's oldest heritage brands, including Jaguar, Harrods and the BBC.
  4. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French heritage, from heriter ‘inherit’, from ecclesiastical Latin hereditare, from Latin heres, hered- ‘heir’.
See heritage in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee heritage in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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noun
 
 
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