World

Earth

World is often synonymous with the planet Earth (especially when
capitalized: the World).

Universe and planetary worlds

It is sometimes used to refer to the entire Universe. This is less common
now that knowledge of space is more commonplace; however, it is still used
vaguely in this sense (as in "the whole wide world").

The word "world" is sometimes used as a synonym for planet; for example,
Mars and Jupiter are two worlds within the solar system.

Another senses

World can be used in less literal terms; for example, when describing two
people with very little in common, one can describe them as "living in two
different worlds." When a person refers to the "end of the world," that
person usually means "the end of everything I am familiar with."

World can also refer to a fictional setting, for example the world of Star
Trek or the world of Lord of the Rings.

First world, second world, third world

The terms first world, second world, and third world are used to divide the
nations of Earth into three broad categories. Originally, the term "first
world" referred to capitalist societies, the term "second world" to
centrally planned ones, whereas "third world" stood for tribal systems.
During the Cold War, the phrase "first world" referred to nations within the
United States' sphere of influence, the phrase "second world" to nations
within the Soviet Union's sphere of influence, and the phrase "third world"
to nations within neither sphere. After the Cold War, "first world" began to
refer to countries with "Western" societies and large economies and "third
world" to developing countries in regions such as Africa (because originally
neither Cold War superpower bothered with such countries); with the fall of
Leninist Communism the term "second world" largely fell out of use.

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