Lebanon

[leb-uh-nuhn, -non]

noun

1. a republic at the E end of the Mediterranean, N of Israel. 3,927 sq. mi. (10,170 sq. km). Beirut.

2. a city in SE Pennsylvania.

3. a city in N central Tennessee.

4. a town in central Indiana.

5. a town in W New Hampshire.

6. a town in W Oregon.

Lebanon

/ ˈlɛbənən /

noun

1. a republic in W Asia, on the Mediterranean: an important centre of the Phoenician civilization in the third millennium _bc ; part of the Ottoman Empire from 1516 until 1919; gained independence in 1941 (effective by 1945). Official language: Arabic; French and English are also widely spoken. Religion: Muslim and Christian. Currency: Lebanese pound. Capital: Beirut. Pop: 4 131 583 (2013est). Area: 10 400 sq km (4015 sq miles)

Lebanon

1. Republic in the Middle East, located on the Mediterranean Sea, bordered to the north and east by Syria and to the south by Israel. Its capital and largest city is Beirut.

Lebanon was established in 1920 from remnants of the Ottoman Empire. Its mixed Christian and Muslim population generally lived peacefully under a weak central government until the 1970s. Israel invaded in 1978 to challenge the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) influence in Lebanon and to stop PLO raids on Israel. During the 1980s Lebanon became the scene of intense fighting between PLO, Syrian, and Israeli forces, as well as indigenous Christian and Muslim factions. Terrorist bombings and the taking of foreign nationals (including American citizens) as hostages became common events. By 1992, Syria had emerged as the dominant influence in Lebanon. Democratic elections were held in the mid-1990s.

Example Sentences

Lebanon will file a complaint to the United Nations Security Council alleging that Israel is building walls in south Lebanon, an accusation Israel has denied, the Lebanese presidency said Saturday.

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Through these exchanges, Gillespie tried to set up a meeting with a preteen girl in Lebanon County, some 200 miles east of Pittsburgh.

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Even if the truce grows into a lasting peace, Israel will likely continue to face threats from regional adversaries such as Iran and militants in Yemen, Lebanon and elsewhere.

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Syria is no longer the supply hub of the Iranian proxy axis, but some Iranian arms smuggling—destabilizing to Lebanon, Jordan and the West Bank—continues via Syria’s porous borders.

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Your Nov. 8 editorial asks “Will Israel Do Lebanon’s Dirty Work?,” after the IDF launched air strikes on Hezbollah targets last week.

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