xian

[ Chinese shyahn ]
/ Chinese ʃyɑn /

noun

hsien.

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Words nearby xian

x-height, Xhosa, xi, Xia Gui, Xiamen, xian, Xiang, Xianggang, Xiang Jiang, Xiangtan, xi baryon

Definition for xian (2 of 2)

Xian

or Xi'·an

[ shee-ahn ]
/ ˈʃiˈɑn /

noun Pinyin.

a city in and the capital of Shaanxi province, in central China: capital of the ancient Chinese Empire.
Also (Older Spellings) Si·an [see-ahn, shee-], /ˈsiˈɑn, ˈʃi-/, Si·ngan [Chinese see-ngahn] /Chinese ˈsiˈŋɑn/ .
Formerly (Pinyin, Wade-Giles) Chang·an [chahng-ahn] /ˈtʃɑŋˈɑn/ .
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for xian

Xi'an

Hsian or Sian

/ (ʃjɑːn) /

noun

an industrial city in central China, capital of Shaanxi province: capital of China for 970 years at various times between the 3rd century bc and the 10th century ad; seat of the Northwestern University (1937); famous for Qin dynasty emperor Qinshihuang's tomb (207 bc) with 8000-strong terracotta army. Pop: 3 256 000 (2005 est)Former names: Changan, Siking
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