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National Rifle Association, the
organization that provides advice and support for farmers. Although it is called a 'union', it is not a TRADE UNION, but it tries to influence politicians to support policies that help its members.
**National 'Film ,Theatre, the** abbrev. **NFT** a building containing two cinemas on the SOUTH BANK in London, which is part of the BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE and is known for showing films that are not shown at ordinary cinemas, including old films, foreign films, and films made by small companies
**National Foundation on the ,Arts and the Hu'manities, the** an American government organization which develops and supports arts and HUMANITIES. It works with the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
**National 'Front, the** a small extreme RIGHT-WING political party in Britain which believes that white people should have more rights than black and Asian people who live in the UK
**National 'Gallery, the** a large public art GALLERY in Trafalgar Square, London, which contains the largest collection of important paintings in the UK. The National Gallery contains mostly European art, from all periods between about 1200 and the end of the 19th century. A large new part, called the Sainsbury Wing, was added in 1991. → compare TATE GALLERY
**National ,Gallery of 'Art, the** a large public MUSEUM of paintings, SCULPTURES etc in Washington, D.C.
**National Geo'graphic, The** a US monthly magazine, which is produced by the National Geographic Society and is known for its beautiful photographs, maps, and interesting articles about nature, wild animals, and people from different CULTURES all over the world
**national 'government** n tech a government formed by most or all of the political parties in a country, especially during a war
**national 'grid, the** 1 (in Britain) the NETWORK of electricity supply wires connecting power stations 2 the system of numbered squares printed on a map to show the exact position of a place
**National 'Guard, the** a RESERVE military force (=ordinary citizens with military training who can be used if they are needed) in each US state. The local or national government can ask the National Guard to help in difficult or dangerous situations, for example when there are STRIKES, violent protests, floods, or forest fires: The governor called out the National Guard to help control the riots. → compare TERRITORIAL ARMY, THE
**National 'Guardsman** n a member of the National Guard
**National 'Health ,Service, the** also **the NHS, the Health Service** the system that provides free medical care and treatment to everyone in the UK, paid for by taxes. It was established in 1948 and is an important part of the British WELFARE STATE. British people are usually very proud of the National Health Service, and politicians become unpopular if they suggest changes that would make people pay for medical treatment.
**National 'Heritage** a British organization that is in charge of giving out money from the National Heritage Memorial Fund to MUSEUMS and other institutions to help them buy works of art, buildings of historic interest etc, or to keep these things in good condition. The money that is used in this way is provided by the UK's National Lottery.
**National In'surance** abbrev. **NI** a system of insurance in the UK, run by the government. Employers and the people who work for them have to make regular payments (National Insurance Contributions), and this provides money for people who are old, or ill, or have no work. Every adult has a NATIONAL INSURANCE NUMBER and all employers and working people have to take part in the system.
**National In'surance ,Number** n a special number given to each person in the UK as soon as they are old enough to work, so that they become part of the NATIONAL INSURANCE system. There is a similar system in the US, by which people are given a SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.
**na·tion·al·ism** /'næʃənəlɪzəm/ n [U] 1 sometimes derog love of and pride in one's own country, especially believing it to be better than any other country 2 desire by a NATIONALITY to form an independent country: the growth of Scottish nationalism
**na·tion·al·ist¹** /'næʃənəlɪst/ n 1 a person believing in NATIONALISM 2 (usually cap.) a member of a political group which wants national independence or strong national government: Basque nationalists
**nationalist²** adj believing in NATIONALISM: the nationalist party in Wales
**na·tion·al·is·tic** /ˌnæʃənə'lɪstɪk / adj often derog of or showing (too) great love of one's country: a nationalistic election speech →**ally** /kli/ adv
**na·tion·al·i·ty** /ˌnæʃə'nælɪti/ n 1 [C;U] the fact of being a citizen of a particular country: She lives in France but has British nationality (=she is legally a citizen of Britain, not France). | His mother's French and his father's Spanish, so he has dual nationality (=he is a citizen of France and Spain) 2 [C] a large group of people with the same race, origin, language etc: the different nationalities of the former USSR
**na·tion·al·ize** || also -**ise** BrE /'næʃənəlaɪz/ v [T] (of a central government) to buy or take control of (a business, industry etc): The British government nationalized the railways in 1948. → opposites DENATIONALIZE, PRIVATIZE —**ization** /ˌnæʃənəlaɪ'zeɪʃən||-nəlɪ-/ n [U]
**nationalized 'industry** n an industry which is owned by the state and controlled by the central government. Nationalized industries are usually those which are important to the country, and may be supported by the government's money.
**National 'Labor Relations ,Board, the** abbrev. **NLRB** a US government organization that tries to settle disagreements between workers and managers, especially in large companies. There is a similar organization in the UK called ACAS.
**National Lam'poon** a humorous US magazine which is read especially by young people, and which is known for making fun of famous people, recent events, traditions etc. There are also National Lampoon films and radio and television programmes.
**National 'League** one of two groups of professional BASEBALL teams that make up the highest level of baseball in the US and Canada. Every year, the team that wins in this LEAGUE plays against the winning team of the American League in a series of games called the World Series. → see Cultural Note at BASEBALL
**National 'Lottery, the** trademark the UK LOTTERY, which was established by the British government in 1994 and is operated by a private company called CAMELOT. Money collected by the lottery is partly given away in prizes, and partly given to support CHARITY organizations, sports clubs, theatres etc. Although the chances of winning the lottery are extremely small, the prizes are very large, and this has made the lottery very popular. In 2002, the name of the National Lottery was changed to The Lotto.
**National 'Maritime Mu,seum, the** a MUSEUM in Greenwich, South London, with models and pictures of British ships, and things connected with the sea, sailing, and famous seamen
**National Negro Leagues, the** also **the Negro Leagues** several US BASKETBALL LEAGUES which African-Americans played in between 1887 and 1960
**National Organi,zation for 'Women** → see NOW, THE
**national 'park** n (often caps.) an area of natural, historical, or scientific interest which is kept by the government for people to visit: Yosemite National Park
**National 'Portrait ,Gallery, the** an art GALLERY in Trafalgar Square in London which contains many pictures of famous men and women in British history and CULTURE
**National ,Public 'Radio** abbrev. **NPR** a network of independent US radio stations; National Public Radio is paid for by the people who listen to it, and is known for its excellent and interesting high-quality programmes on news and CURRENT AFFAIRS (=important things that are happening in the world).
**National 'Rifle Association, the** abbrev. **NRA** a US organization that supports people's rights to buy and keep