Mecca

American  

[mek-uh] / ˈmɛk ə /

noun

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

2. (often lowercase) any place that many people visit or hope to visit.

   The president's birthplace is a mecca for his admirers.

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Mecca British  

/ ˈmɛkə /

noun

1. Arabic name: Makkah.  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)

2. (sometimes not capital) a place that attracts many visitors

   Athens is a Mecca for tourists

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Mecca ¹ Cultural  

1. 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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Mecca ² Cultural  

1. City in western Saudi Arabia.

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Discover More

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

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.

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

Other Word Forms

• Meccan adjective

Example Sentences

“That’s Mecca,” said Ted Barrow, a skateboarder and architectural preservationist who has defended the fountain at public hearings.

From The Wall Street Journal

Saudi Arabia is likely to follow that pattern, allowing alcohol in parts of the country while prohibiting it in religiously sensitive areas such as the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

From The Wall Street Journal

"People have been asking to come in too, it's just been non-stop, it's a Mecca for Harry Potter fans," he said.

From BBC

Fred dreams of beating his annual sales goal and earning a trip to Palm Springs, Calif., a place he reveres “the way others may have felt about Canterbury or Jerusalem or Mecca.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Of these, four people stayed back in Mecca while four went to Medina by car.

From BBC