Definition of "state" []

• A condition or mode of being, as with regard to circumstances: a state of confusion. (noun)
• A condition of being in a stage or form, as of structure, growth, or development: the fetal state. (noun)
• A mental or emotional condition: in a manic state. (noun)
• Informal A condition of excitement or distress. (noun)
• Physics The condition of a physical system with regard to phase, form, composition, or structure: Ice is the solid state of water. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Thus, state laws first had to be a valid substantive exercise of the state¡¦s police power before it was incorporated into Webb-Kenyon and could be applied to interstate shipments of liquor."
• "Instead, the initial law that the state sought to enforce against interstate commerce must itself be an externally valid exercise of the state¡¦s police power."
• "COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: And it also gave me the opportunity, as secretary of state, to thank him and to thank the Canadian people and the Canadian government, especially the prime minister for all the solid support that Canada has given to the United States in the days since the 11th of September."