Cleopatra

[ klee-uh-pa-truh, -pah-, -pey- ]
/ ˌkli əˈpæ trə, -ˈpɑ-, -ˈpeɪ- /

noun

69–30 b.c., queen of Egypt 51–49, 48–30.
a female given name: from Greek words meaning “fame” and “father.”

Example sentences from the Web for cleopatra

British Dictionary definitions for cleopatra (1 of 2)

cleopatra
/ (ˌkliːəˈpætrə, -ˈpɑː-) /

noun

a yellow butterfly, Gonepteryx cleopatra, the male of which has its wings flushed with orange

British Dictionary definitions for cleopatra (2 of 2)

Cleopatra
/ (ˌkliːəˈpætrə, -ˈpɑː-) /

noun

?69–30 bc, queen of Egypt (51–30), renowned for her beauty: the mistress of Julius Caesar and later of Mark Antony. She killed herself with an asp to avoid capture by Octavian (Augustus)

Cultural definitions for cleopatra

Cleopatra

A queen of Egypt (see also Egypt) in the first century b.c., famous for her beauty, charm, and luxurious living. She lived for some time in Rome with Julius Caesar. For several years after Caesar was assassinated, she lived in Egypt with the Roman politician Mark Antony. Antony killed himself on hearing a false report that she was dead. After Antony's death, Cleopatra committed suicide by allowing an asp, a poisonous snake, to bite her.

notes for Cleopatra

The play Antony and Cleopatra, by William Shakespeare, dramatizes Cleopatra's affair with Antony and her suicide.