realm noun
1 area of activity/interest/knowledge
ADJ. whole the whole realm of human intellect | new | international | public | domestic, private | political, social, spiritual
VERB + REALM be/lie in, belong in/to | open up The research has opened up new realms for investigation. | enter, move into | descend into/to (disapproving) Most readers are likely to lose interest when he descends into the realms of (= starts discussing) rhetorical terminology. | move from/out of The euro has moved from the realms of theory into reality.
PREP. beyond/out of/outside the ~ of His ambitions are way beyond the realms of possibility. | in/within the ~ of The idea belongs in the realm of science fiction.
PHRASES the realms of fantasy/possibility
2 country ruled by a king/queen
VERB + REALM defend They fought to defend the realm.
PREP. beyond/outside the ~ wealth acquired outside the realm | in/within the ~ peace within the realm | throughout the ~ There was rejoicing throughout the realm.
PHRASES a part of the realm, the defence of the realm Royal taxation usually had to be for the defence of the realm.
n.
the untroubled kingdom of reason
a land of make-believe
the rise of the realm of cotton in the south
it was a limited domain of discourse
here we enter the region of opinion
the realm of the occult