Persian Gulf

American  

noun

1. an arm of the Arabian Sea, between SW Iran and Arabia. 600 miles (965 km) long.

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Persian Gulf British  

noun

1. a shallow arm of the Arabian Sea between SW Iran and Arabia: linked with the Arabian Sea by the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman; important for the oilfields on its shores. Area: 233 000 sq km (90 000 sq miles)

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Persian Gulf Cultural  

1. Arm of the Indian Ocean between Arabia and Iran.

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The Persian Gulf oil fields are among the most productive in the world.

The Persian Gulf region was dominated by Britain for most of the twentieth century. After Britain's withdrawal in the late 1960s, the United States and the Soviet Union competed for influence in the region. (See Persian Gulf War.)

Example Sentences

Dozens of tankers diverted from the Persian Gulf in the early hours of the conflict.

From The Wall Street Journal

Oil tankers in the Persian Gulf have diverted from their routes amid fears of escalation, the Journal reported.

From Barron's

The strait is crucial because it allows cargo ships to pass the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, facilitating the production and flow of crude oil from the Middle East.

From MarketWatch

For decades, the Arab states of the Persian Gulf sold themselves as an oasis of peace in a region prone to conflict, attracting wealthy expats, multinational corporations and investment.

From The Wall Street Journal

Greece has reportedly begun warning Greek-flagged vessels to avoid shipping routes in the Persian Gulf.

From Barron's