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• Aden
  Aden

  noun

  a seaport in and the economic capital of the Republic of Yemen, in the southern part: formerly the center of a British colony.
• aden-
  aden-

  variant of adeno- before a vowel.

Aden

¹ American  

[ahd-n, ayd-n] / ˈɑd n, ˈeɪd n /

noun

1. a seaport in and the economic capital of the Republic of Yemen, in the southern part: formerly the center of a British colony.

2. Also called State of Aden. Colony of Aden, a former British colony on the Gulf of Aden and a member of the former Federation of South Arabia. 75 sq. mi. (194 sq. km).

3. Protectorate of Aden, former name, until 1962, of the former Protectorate of South Arabia.

4. Gulf of Aden, an arm of the Arabian Sea between Arabia and the eastern tip of Africa.

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aden- ² American  

1. variant of adeno- before a vowel.

   adenitis.

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Aden British  

/ ˈeɪdən /

noun

1. the main port and commercial capital of Yemen, on the N coast of the Gulf of Aden , an arm of the Indian Ocean at the entrance to the Red Sea: capital of South Yemen until 1990: formerly an important port of call on shipping routes to the East. Pop: 584 000 (2005 est)

2. a former British colony and protectorate on the S coast of the Arabian Peninsula: became part of South Yemen in 1967, now part of Yemen. Area: 195 sq km (75 sq miles)

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Aden Cultural  

1. Capital and chief port of Yemen, located on the Gulf of Aden, near the southwest corner of the Arabian Peninsula and the southern entrance of the Red Sea.

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Usage

What does aden- mean? Aden- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “gland.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy. Aden- comes from the Greek adḗn, meaning "gland." This Greek root is ultimately the source of adenoids, the enlarged masses of lymphoid tissue in the upper pharynx, often obstructing breathing through the nasal passages. Aden- is a variant of adeno-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use adeno-  article.

Discover More

Its strategic location and excellent harbor have made Aden an important trading center of southern Arabia since ancient times, as well as a coveted conquest.

Etymology

Origin of Aden

First recorded in 1640–60; from Arabic ʿAdin, ʿAdan, perhaps ultimately from Akkadian edin(n)u “plain,” from Sumerian eden “plain, steppe”; see Eden ¹ ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Aden

Mohammed, a 33-year-old charity worker who fled from Mocha to the city of Aden, told AFP that "people there are terrified" of the Houthis.

From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026

Relatives and friends escorted him to a private hospital, where he was put in a separate room, Kenyan Health Minister Aden Duale told reporters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Health Minister Aden Duale said the patient, who fell ill a month ago, and was treated in several hospitals in DR Congo, died days after arriving in Nairobi.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

On Sunday, the Houthis cut a vital supply route linking Taiz with Aden, the interim capital of the Yemeni government, AFP news agency reports.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

Aden swung out like a turkey vulture that goes in big, looping circles.

From "Life Is So Good" by George Dawson

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