Azores

American  

[uh-zawrz, uh-zohrz, ey-zawrz, ey-zohrz] / əˈzɔrz, əˈzoʊrz, ˈeɪ zɔrz, ˈeɪ zoʊrz /

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. a group of islands in the N Atlantic, W of Portugal: politically part of Portugal. 890 sq. mi. (2,305 sq. km).

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Azores British  

/ əˈzɔːz /

plural noun

1. Portuguese name: Açores.  three groups of volcanic islands in the N Atlantic, since 1976 an autonomous region of Portugal. Capital: Ponta Delgada (on São Miguel). Pop: 241 762 (2001). Area: 2335 sq km (901 sq miles)

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Azores Cultural  

1. Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, west of mainland Portugal, belonging to Portugal.

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Discover More

Strategically located on transatlantic air and shipping routes.

Other Word Forms

• Azorean adjective
• Azorian adjective

Example Sentences

Storm Therese was named by the Portuguese weather service earlier this week - largely because of the risk of disruption in Madeira and the Azores.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

In contrast, neighbouring Portugal authorised the United States to "conditionally" use an airbase on the Azores archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean for the Iran strikes, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro told parliament on Wednesday.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

Near the Azores, a comparable trench system called the Terceira Rift is forming in another region where the oceanic crust is unusually thick.

From Science Daily • Feb. 23, 2026

Dairymen from the Netherlands and from the Portuguese Azores staged dairy festivals and competitions, and went to culturally based schools and churches.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2026

In the case of the Azores this was mistaken, while it was correct in the case of Madeira, discovered—or rather rediscovered—around the same time, for it was known to Pliny and Plutarch.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton