Arab.

¹ American  

abbreviation

1. Arabia.

2. Arabian.

3. Arabic.

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Arab ² American  

[ar-uhb] / ˈær əb /

noun

1. a member of a Semitic people inhabiting Arabia and other countries of the Middle East.

2. a member of any Arabic-speaking people.

3. Arabian horse.

4. Also called Arabber.  Sometimes Offensive. a street peddler.

5. Archaic: Sometimes Offensive. street arab.

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adjective

1. of or relating to Arabs.

2. Arabian.

3. Arabic.

Arab British  

noun

1. a member of a Semitic people originally inhabiting Arabia, who spread throughout the Middle East, N Africa, and Spain during the seventh and eighth centuries _ad

2. a lively intelligent breed of horse, mainly used for riding

3. (modifier) of or relating to the Arabs

   the Arab nations

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Sensitive Note

The meanings “street peddler” and “vagabond” (in this second sense, also called a street arab ) are sometimes perceived as insulting because of their reference to the historically nomadic peoples of Arabia. The meaning “vagabond” has fallen into disuse. However, street vendors in Baltimore, Maryland, are called Arabs; in fact, it is a self-referential term—that is, one used by the vendors themselves.

Pronunciation

The pronunciation of Arab as , with an initial sound and secondary stress on the second syllable, is sometimes used facetiously or disparagingly. It is especially common in the street-peddler and street-arab senses and is usually considered offensive in any sense.

Other Word Forms

• anti-Arab adjective
• non-Arab noun
• pro-Arab adjective

Etymology

Origin of Arab

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin Arab-, stem of Arabs, from Greek Árab-, stem of Áraps “Arabian, an Arabian, Arab,” from Arabic ʿArab, a self-designation

Example Sentences

An Arab diplomat told the BBC's US partner, CBS News, that the negotiations between Tehran and Washington were never officially called off but had been in flux on Wednesday morning.

From BBC

Joined by a business delegation, the conservative leader will meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, then travel to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on a whistlestop tour that concludes Friday.

From Barron's

That laid the seeds for Disney’s current $60-billion, 10-year investment program to expand theme parks and resorts, cruise lines and open a new venture in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

From Los Angeles Times

Like the new minerals reserve, the petroleum stockpile dates to a foreign supply shock—the Arab oil embargo of the 1970s.

From The Wall Street Journal

According to commodities data supplier Kpler, the tanker identified by Vanguard was coming from the United Arab Emirates and was headed to Bahrain, the site of a key U.S. naval base.

From The Wall Street Journal