Mecca

[mek-uh]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR Mecca ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Also Makkah, Mekka. a city in and the capital of Hejaz, in W Saudi Arabia: birthplace of Muhammad; spiritual center of Islam.

(often lowercase) any place that many people visit or hope to visit: The president's birthplace is a mecca for his admirers.

Related formsMec·can, adjective, noun

Hijaz

or He·djaz, He·jaz

[hee-jaz; Arabic hee-zhahz]

noun

a region in Saudi Arabia bordering on the Red Sea, formerly an independent kingdom: contains the Islamic holy cities of Medina and Mecca. About 150,000 sq. mi. (388,500 sq. km). Capital: Mecca.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for mecca

heart, hub, destination, focus, aim, purpose, capital, objective

Examples from the Web for mecca

Contemporary Examples of mecca

Mrs. Kouachi works at a nursery and has worn the veil since she made the pilgrimage to Mecca in 2008.
France Mourns—and Hunts
Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey
January 8, 2015
And an arrow painted on the ground that shows the way to Mecca, for prayers.
9/11 Mastermind Is Afraid of the Ladies
Tim Mak
December 16, 2014
The city became a Mecca for hordes of hipsters and creative types as well as young people seeking their fortune in finance.
Eric Garner Was Just a Number to Them
Michael Daly
December 5, 2014
The subject is, in fact, Jeff Froth from the rock group Mecca.
The Dark Rock Star Fantasy of Saint Laurent’s Hedi Slimane
Liza Foreman
September 24, 2014
Since the 13th century, Sunni devotes have been traveling to Chinguetti on their way to Mecca.
The Lost Libraries of the Sahara‬
Nina Strochlic
September 11, 2014

Historical Examples of mecca

They were the messengers and the troops of the Emir of Mecca.
The Story of the Great War, Volume III (of VIII)
Various
In Hori I encountered a caravan of pilgrims returning from Mecca.
The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ
Nicolas Notovitch
He was tired of men's ingratitude—he had no heirs—he wanted to go to Mecca and die there.
An Outcast of the Islands
Joseph Conrad
It is good for us to come to this Mecca, the heart of our nation.
The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV
Various
The "Caaba" is originally a black stone which is kissed or rubbed at Mecca.
History of Religion
Allan Menzies

British Dictionary definitions for mecca

Mecca

Mekka

noun

a city in W Saudi Arabia, joint capital (with Riyadh) of Saudi Arabia: birthplace of Mohammed; the holiest city of Islam, containing the Kaaba. Pop: 1 529 000 (2005 est)Arabic name: Makkah

(sometimes not capital) a place that attracts many visitorsAthens is a Mecca for tourists

Hijaz

noun

a variant spelling of Hejaz

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

Word Origin and History for mecca

Mecca

Arabic Makkah, sacred city of Islam, birthplace of Muhammad, which every Muslim must visit at least once. Origins have been proposed in Phoenician maqaq "ruined" or Arabic mahrab "sanctuary." Figurative sense of "any place one holds supremely sacred" (usually with lower-case m-) is in English from 1850. Related: Meccan.

mecca in Culture

Mecca

The birthplace of Muhammad, and thus the holiest city for Muslims. Muslims face in the direction of Mecca when they pray, and they are expected to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lives. Mecca is in present-day Saudi Arabia.

Note

Figuratively, a “mecca” is any place that attracts a great many people, especially for a particular reason: “Vail is a mecca for skiers.”

Mecca

City in western Saudi Arabia.

Note

As the place where Mohammed the prophet was born in the sixth century, it is the holiest city of Islam and the destination of numerous Muslim pilgrims.

Note

A “mecca” is a place that attracts people: “Hollywood is a mecca for would-be actors and actresses.”