Mecca
[mek-uh]
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Hijaz
or He·djaz, He·jaz
[hee-jaz; Arabic hee-zhahz]
- 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.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for mecca
Contemporary Examples
Mrs. Kouachi works at a nursery and has worn the veil since she made the pilgrimage to Mecca in 2008.
And an arrow painted on the ground that shows the way to Mecca, for prayers.
The city became a Mecca for hordes of hipsters and creative types as well as young people seeking their fortune in finance.
The subject is, in fact, Jeff Froth from the rock group Mecca.
Since the 13th century, Sunni devotes have been traveling to Chinguetti on their way to Mecca.
Historical Examples
They were the messengers and the troops of the Emir of Mecca.
In Hori I encountered a caravan of pilgrims returning from Mecca.
The Unknown Life of Jesus ChristNicolas 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 IslandsJoseph Conrad
It is good for us to come to this Mecca, the heart of our nation.
The "Caaba" is originally a black stone which is kissed or rubbed at Mecca.
History of ReligionAllan Menzies
Mecca
Mekka
- 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
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Hijaz
- a variant spelling of Hejaz
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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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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.
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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.
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Note
Note
A “mecca” is a place that attracts people: “Hollywood is a mecca for would-be actors and actresses.”
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.