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.
“Cedar Cliff is a Mediterranean villa of unrivaled pedigree and commanding presence,” the description goes on.
From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026
Three years ago, scientists detected something extraordinary deep beneath the Mediterranean Sea: the most energetic cosmic neutrino ever observed.
From Science Daily • May 24, 2026
Greece is pressing for greater development of natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean.
From Salon • May 21, 2026
Cava Group jumped 4.7% after the Mediterranean fast-casual food chain beat analysts’ expectations for first-quarter earnings and revenue.
From Barron's • May 20, 2026
The air of the place had something Mediterranean or maybe Caribbean about it.
From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
