Lesbos

American  

[lez-bos, -bohs, les-vaws] / ˈlɛz bɒs, -boʊs, ˈlɛs vɔs /

noun

1. Mytilene.

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Lesbos British  

/ ˈlɛzbɒs /

noun

1. Former name: Mytilene.  Modern Greek name: Lésvos.  an island in the E Aegean, off the NW coast of Turkey: a centre of lyric poetry, led by Alcaeus and Sappho (6th century _bc ); annexed to Greece in 1913. Chief town: Mytilene. Pop: 90 642 (2001). Area: 1630 sq km (630 sq miles)

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Example Sentences

The verdict came almost a month after the start of their trial at a court on Lesbos, ending a legal ordeal for the activists since 2018.

From Barron's • Jan. 15, 2026

Among them, a remarkable disabled Kurdish girl I first met in August 2015, when she had joined a vast column of people who had landed on the Greek island of Lesbos.

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2024

Lesbos was the focus of the 2015 immigration crisis, when nearly a million people fleeing war, repression or poverty reached Europe, and large numbers of Greek and foreign aid workers set up operations there.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 30, 2024

Sunday, sent a distress signal and shortly after disappeared about 4 1/2 nautical miles southwest of Lesbos, authorities said.

From Washington Times • Nov. 26, 2023

Lesbos and verdant Thasos thee adore, And Lydians in loose flowing dress implore, And raise devoted temples to thy pow’r.

From The Masculine Cross A History of Ancient and Modern Crosses and Their Connection with the Mysteries of Sex Worship; Also an Account of the Kindred Phases of Phallic Faiths and Practices by Anonymous