Crete

American  

[kreet] / krit /

noun

1. Formerly Candia.  a Greek island in the Mediterranean, southeast of mainland Greece. 3,235 sq. mi. (8,380 sq. km). Canea.

2. Sea of Crete, a part of the south Aegean Sea lying between the Cyclades Islands and Crete.

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Crete British  

/ kriːt /

noun

1. Modern Greek name: Kríti.  a mountainous island in the E Mediterranean, the largest island of Greece: of archaeological importance for the ruins of Minoan civilization. Pop: 601 131 (2001). Area: 8331 sq km (3216 sq miles)

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Crete Cultural  

1. Island in southeastern Greece in the Mediterranean Sea.

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One of the world's earliest civilizations, the Minoan civilization, reached its peak in Crete in 1600 b.c.

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands.

In Greek mythology, Crete was Minos's kingdom, where the Minotaur lived at the center of the Labyrinth.

Example Sentences

A red warning is in place in Crete, mainly in the west and south, from midday until late at night on Thursday.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Meanwhile, some flights were disrupted on Crete on Wednesday after dust from an African storm filled the air, turning the sky red-orange.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

The coastguard late Friday said 26 people, including a woman and a minor, were rescued by a European border agency vessel off the island of Crete.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is currently docked at a naval base in Crete to undergo repairs after suffering damage from a fire.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

When the young victims arrived in Crete they were paraded before the inhabitants on their way to the Labyrinth.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton