Mediterranean
Americannoun
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a person whose physical characteristics are considered typical of the peoples native to or inhabiting the Mediterranean area.
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Informal. the, the islands and countries of the Mediterranean Sea collectively.
adjective
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pertaining to, situated on or near, or dwelling about the Mediterranean Sea.
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pertaining to or characteristic of the peoples native to the lands along or near the Mediterranean Sea.
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surrounded or nearly surrounded by land.
noun
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short for the Mediterranean Sea
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a native or inhabitant of a Mediterranean country
adjective
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of, relating to, situated or dwelling on or near the Mediterranean Sea
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denoting a postulated subdivision of the Caucasoid race, characterized by slender build and dark complexion
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meteorol (of a climate) characterized by hot summers and relatively warm winters when most of the annual rainfall occurs
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obsolete (often not capital) situated in the middle of a landmass; inland
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Mediterranean
1585–95; < Latin mediterrāne ( us ) midland, inland ( see medium, terra, -an, -eous) + -an
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Common octopuses are usually found in the warmer Mediterranean Sea.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Today, my wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, and I divide our time between homes in New York and Spain’s Mallorca island, overlooking the Mediterranean.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
Its radar altimeter has collected sea surface height data across the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026
The Mediterranean Revival-style estate, which sits on 2.76 acres in the Beverly Hills Post Office area, offers an enormous 16,079 square feet of living space, along with eight bedrooms and more than 10 bathrooms.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026
Her eyes were blue, like the Mediterranean Sea.
From "Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story" by Nora Raleigh Baskin
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.