Sahara

[ suh-har-uh, -hair-uh, -hahr-uh ]

/ səˈhær ə, -ˈhɛər ə, -ˈhɑr ə /

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See synonyms for Sahara on Thesaurus.com

noun

a desert in northern Africa, extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the Nile valley. About 3,500,000 square miles (9,065,000 square kilometers).

any arid waste.

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Origin of Sahara

From Arabic ṣaḥra (plural ṣaḥārā ) “desert”

OTHER WORDS FROM Sahara

Sa·har·an, Sa·har·i·an, adjectivetrans-Sa·har·a, adjectivetrans-Sa·har·an, adjective

Words nearby Sahara

Saguenay, Saguia el Hamra, Sagunto, sag wagon, Sahaptin, Sahara, Saharan, Saharanpur, Sahel, Sahelanthropus tchadensis, sahib

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Sahara in a sentence

Scientists have found microbes that started in the Sahara, for example, landing in the Caribbean.
Wildfire smoke seeds the air with potentially dangerous microbes|Megan Sever|September 2, 2021|Science News For Students
A big remaining question is whether and how it might cross the Sahara.
A European butterfly bonanza starts with caterpillars 4,000 miles away|Benji Jones|June 25, 2021|Vox
Typically, the southern edge of the Sahara doesn’t have much vegetation.
A European butterfly bonanza starts with caterpillars 4,000 miles away|Benji Jones|June 25, 2021|Vox
Scientists have found microorganisms from the Sahara in the Caribbean, for example.
Wildfires launch microbes into the air. How big of a health risk is that?|Megan Sever|April 13, 2021|Science News

He managed an isolated refueling station in the western Sahara before transferring in 1929 to Argentina, where a team of pilots established long-distance links to Patagonia.
Taking to the skies in Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s ‘Wind, Sand and Stars’|Mary Winston Nicklin|April 1, 2021|Washington Post
It had taken the camels and their black-turbaned Berber herders four long days to walk from the Sahara.
On Foot in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco|Joanna Eede|January 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Morocco stands firmly on claims that it has historic links to the Western Sahara dating back many centuries.
Are Polisario Camps Becoming Prime Recruiting Grounds for al Qaeda?|Vivian Salama|October 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Accounts emerge from the harrowing Islamist attack on an oil field in the Sahara Desert.
Inside the Algerian Hostage Standoff|Jamie Dettmer|January 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The American Interest reports that vast aquifers of water have been found beneath the Sahara desert.
Malthusian Predictions Fail Once Again|David Frum|December 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He was happy when the Khawams opened a series of restaurants of their own, all called Sahara.
Jill Kelley’s Campaign to Befriend Petraeus, Allen, and Other Top Brass|Michael Daly|November 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Thus many artesian wells have been sunk in the Algerian Sahara which have proved an immense boon to the district.
The Wonder Book of Knowledge|Various
Richmond is, to me, a Sahara, whose single fountain of sweet waters springs up within your sister's home.
Alone|Marion Harland
Except in extent, a journey across it is similar to that of the parched caravans across the flaming sands of Sahara.
The Life of Kit Carson|Edward S. Ellis
Special bivouac amateur bouillon danger must have Sahara easily Groener arms impossible.
Through the Wall|Cleveland Moffett
Not unworthy of rejoicing the eyes of the most fastidious connoisseurs, it lives and dies unknown in the solitudes of the Sahara.
The Desert World|Arthur Mangin

British Dictionary definitions for Sahara

Sahara

/ (səˈhɑːrə) /

noun

a desert in N Africa, extending from the Atlantic to the Red Sea and from the Mediterranean to central Mali, Niger, Chad, and the Sudan: the largest desert in the world, occupying over a quarter of Africa; rises to over 3300 m (11 000 ft) in the central mountain system of the Ahaggar and Tibesti massifs; large reserves of iron ore, oil, and natural gas. Area: 9 100 000 sq km (3 500 000 sq miles). Average annual rainfall: less than 254 mm (10 in.). Highest recorded temperature: 58°C (136.4°F)

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

Cultural definitions for Sahara

Sahara

Desert in northern Africa.

notes for Sahara

At approximately 3.5 million square miles, it is the world's largest desert.