Mediterranean

[ med-i-tuh-rey-nee-uhn ]

noun
  1. a person whose physical characteristics are considered typical of the peoples native to or inhabiting the Mediterranean area.

  1. the, Informal. the islands and countries of the Mediterranean Sea collectively.

adjective
  1. pertaining to, situated on or near, or dwelling about the Mediterranean Sea.

  2. pertaining to or characteristic of the peoples native to the lands along or near the Mediterranean Sea.

  1. surrounded or nearly surrounded by land.

Origin of Mediterranean

1
1585–95; <Latin mediterrāne(us) midland, inland (see medium, terra, -an, -eous) + -an

Other words from Mediterranean

  • non-Med·i·ter·ra·ne·an, noun, adjective
  • trans-Med·i·ter·ra·ne·an, adjective

Words Nearby Mediterranean

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use Mediterranean in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for Mediterranean

Mediterranean

/ (ˌmɛdɪtəˈreɪnɪən) /


noun
  1. short for the Mediterranean Sea

  2. a native or inhabitant of a Mediterranean country

adjective
  1. of, relating to, situated or dwelling on or near the Mediterranean Sea

  2. denoting a postulated subdivision of the Caucasoid race, characterized by slender build and dark complexion

  1. meteorol (of a climate) characterized by hot summers and relatively warm winters when most of the annual rainfall occurs

  2. (often not capital) obsolete situated in the middle of a landmass; inland

Origin of Mediterranean

1
C16: from Latin mediterrāneus, from medius middle + -terrāneus, from terra land, earth

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012