Meaning

• Noun

  1. A political state, often a monarchy, that has achieved a much greater current size than its initial size by conquering surrounding territories, cities or nations.
  2. A political unit ruled by an emperor or empress.
  3. The group of states or other territories that owe allegiance to an imperial power (foreign to them), when distinguished from the native territory of that power; imperial possessions.
  4. An expansive and powerful enterprise under the control of one person or group.
  5. control, dominion, sway.

• Adj