Pharos

[fair-os]

noun

1. a small peninsula in northern Egypt, near Alexandria: site of ancient lighthouse built by Ptolemy.

2. the lighthouse on this peninsula.

3. (lowercase),  any lighthouse or beacon to direct sailors.

Pharos

/ ˈfɛərɒs /

noun

1. a large Hellenistic lighthouse built on an island off Alexandria in Egypt in about 280 _bc and destroyed by an earthquake in the 14th century: usually included among the Seven Wonders of the World

Word History and Origins

Origin of Pharos¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin Pharos, Pharus, from Greek Pháros, the name of an island (now a peninsula) lying off Alexandria; the name of the lighthouse at the eastern end of the island; a lighthouse

Example Sentences

In addition to a judicial investigation, Ms Chappaz said she had referred the issue to Arcom, the French media regulator, and Pharos, a French system used to report online content.

Read more on BBC

This risk to child health is one of the reasons Patrick Nash, a researcher and co-founder at the Pharos Foundation research institute, wants to see cousin marriage banned.

Read more on BBC

Nash, from the Pharos Foundation, says that a ban on cousin marriage would help reduce ethnic segregation in places like Bradford.

Read more on BBC

"Icebergs are inherently dangerous. I would be extraordinarily happy if it just completely missed us," sea captain Simon Wallace tells BBC News, speaking from the South Georgia government vessel Pharos.

Read more on BBC

Pharos, a longtime contributor, mentioned that Swahili Wikipedia had unanimously voted to reject the new skin and curtly demanded a return to the old skin.

Read more on Slate

Related Words

• flare 
• lantern 
• radar