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Basra

American  
[buhs-ruh, bahs-rah] / ˈbʌs rə, ˈbɑs rɑ /
Also Busrah.

noun

  1. a port in SE Iraq, N of the Persian Gulf.


Basra British  
/ ˈbʌsrə, ˈbæzrə /

noun

  1. a port in SE Iraq, on the Shatt-al-Arab. Pop: 1 187 000 (2005 est)

"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

Example Sentences

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During the process, Basra unexpectedly stumbled across the names of two of her own relatives, a great-great-grandfather and his brother, who also served in WW1 fighting for the British Indian Army.

From BBC Jul. 6, 2026

When they left the Iraqi port of Basra loaded with oil and chemicals more than two weeks ago, they hoped the Strait would reopen before they ran out of food and fuel.

From The Wall Street Journal May 9, 2026

The port of Aqaba in Jordan serves as a base for sending goods to Baghdad and Basra in Iraq, while a Turkish corridor is also allowing goods into northern Iraq.

From Barron's May 1, 2026

Iraq host the United Arab Emirates in Basra after the first leg of the Asian decider finished 1-1 last Thursday in Abu Dhabi.

From Barron's Nov. 16, 2025

Rabe’a al-Adiwiyah, a great woman saint of Sufism, was seen running through the streets of her hometown, Basra, carrying a torch in one hand and a bucket of water in the other.

From "Looking for Alaska" by John Green

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