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Glite Dictionary
Empire State Building

Empire State Building

21 2.1
A very tall building in New York City with a famous observation deck since 1931
  • proper noun
  • /ˈɛmpaɪər steɪt ˈbɪldɪŋ/
translation icon : Empire State Building
  • The Empire State Building is an iconic symbol of New York City, attracting millions of visitors each year.
  • top of the Empire State Building
  • Empire State Building's observation deck
  • climb the Empire State Building

But when you're on the Empire State Building, you don't.

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Examples

  • She's breaking into a hard run toward the Empire State Building.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • You can see Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, all from Dover.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • The same way when I looked at the Empire State Building, I thought, "What a beautiful building," and not, "Whoa."

    Academic text (2011)

  • Even people who never go near the Empire State Building would say, "I could have been near there."

    Blog text (23)

  • I got to go to the Empire State Building and flip the switch.

  • I could stand all day on the observation deck of the Empire State Building if I wanted to.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Walter starts to sit, revealing a spectacular view of the Empire State Building directly behind him.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • If you're in the Empire State Building looking down, people look like ants.

    Toys (1992)

  • A strip of chrome shaped like a Christmas ornament is on the top of the Empire State Building.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Sam's cab speeds across the bridge and into Manhattan, heading for the Empire State Building.

    Fiction book (1993)

Surface Forms

Empire State Building main

Morphology

empire + state + building

The noun 'building' makes clear this is a physical edifice and the components give partial clues, but 'Empire State' is a culturally specific name (New York's nickname) that a B1 learner who only knows the literal words would unlikely map to that specific skyscraper. Learners can infer it denotes some notable building, but the exact referent and cultural significance are not derivable without prior exposure.

Etymology

Empire State Building gets its name from New York's nickname Empire State, and the tall building was meant to show the state's power and pride.