WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

the States
    n 1: North American republic containing 50 states - 48
         conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in
         northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the
         Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776 [syn: United
         States, United States of America, America, the
         States, US, U.S., USA, U.S.A.]