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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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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

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

How to use Sahara in a sentence

Rub the lotion on your skin—again and againWhenever you start feeling like your skin is gearing up to cosplay as the Sahara, your first instinct may be to put on some lotion.
Five tips for taking care of your over-washed hands|Sandra Gutierrez G.|December 20, 2020|Popular-Science
Passive-aggressive notes, presumably, hit differently when they’ve come from a city on the edge of the Sahara desert.
Not getting any travel postcards? A project in Mali delivers delight — and a lifeline.|Bailey Berg|December 3, 2020|Washington Post
Like when we talking about Morocco — Marrakech, Fez, Sahara desert had all been covered, but no one had really touched upon Casablanca.
Freezing Weather, COVID Pivots: How ‘Eater’s Guide to the World’ Was Made|Eater Staff|November 20, 2020|Eater
The moon isn’t swimming in the wet stuff—the Sahara desert is about 100 times damper, NASA estimates.
The moon is (slightly) wet, NASA confirms. Now what?|Charlie Wood|October 27, 2020|Popular-Science

In the passages, too, there had been a deal of talk about the famous Trans-Saharan project.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete|Emile Zola
To this fact the projected Trans-Saharan line is the strongest witness.
Influences of Geographic Environment|Ellen Churchill Semple

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.