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Bosporus

American  
[bos-per-uhs] / ˈbɒs pər əs /
Also Bosphorus

noun

  1. a strait connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. 18 miles (29 km) long.


Bosporus British  
/ ˈbɒspərəs, ˈbɒsfərəs /

noun

  1. a strait between European and Asian Turkey, linking the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara

"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

Bosporus Cultural  
  1. Strait separating the European and Asian portions of Turkey. The Bosporus is a link between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.


Discover More

It is an important shipping route for Russia, whose northern routes are mostly blocked by ice in winter, and for other nations that border the Black Sea or use any of the many major rivers that flow into it.

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Example Sentences

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The Bosporus, a major waterway in Turkey for commodities including Russian oil exported from the Black Sea, has been open for commercial traffic throughout most of the war in Ukraine.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 28, 2025

Together with the Bosporus Strait, it serves as a vital route for commercial shipping between Europe and Asia.

From BBC Aug. 8, 2025

On Saturday, authorities at the Bulgarian port of Varna did not confirm whether the Anna-Theresa will enter the port or will continue to the Bosporus Strait.

From Washington Times Sep. 2, 2023

The two vessels sailed through a temporary corridor for civilian ships from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports to the Bosporus, Kubrakov said on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.

From Seattle Times Sep. 2, 2023

Still, through all, that strait retaineth Its old name in Hellas' song; "Bosporus" it still remaineth, "Bosporus" it shall be long.

From Punch - Volume 25 (Jul-Dec 1853) by Various

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