Damascus

[ duh-mas-kuh s ]
/ dəˈmæs kəs /

noun

a city in and the capital of Syria, in the SW part: reputed to be the oldest continuously existing city in the world.
French Damas.

Definition for damascus (2 of 2)

Syria
[ seer-ee-uh ]
/ ˈsɪər i ə /

noun

Official name Syrian Arab Republic. a republic in SW Asia at the E end of the Mediterranean. 71,227 sq. mi. (184,478 sq. km). Capital: Damascus.
a territory mandated to France in 1922, including the present republics of Syria and Lebanon (Latakia and Jebel ed Druz were incorporated into Syria 1942): the French mandatory powers were nominally terminated as of January 1, 1944.
an ancient country in W Asia, including the present Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and adjacent areas: a part of the Roman Empire 64 b.c.–a.d.

Example sentences from the Web for damascus

British Dictionary definitions for damascus (1 of 2)

Damascus
/ (dəˈmɑːskəs, -ˈmæs-) /

noun

the capital of Syria, in the southwest: reputedly the oldest city in the world, having been inhabited continuously since before 2000 bc Pop: 2 317 000 (2005 est) Arabic names: Dimashq, Esh Sham (ɛʃ ʃæm)

British Dictionary definitions for damascus (2 of 2)

Syria
/ (ˈsɪrɪə) /

noun

a republic in W Asia, on the Mediterranean: ruled by the Ottoman Turks (1516–1918); made a French mandate in 1920; became independent in 1944; joined Egypt in the United Arab Republic (1958–61). Hafez al-Assad elected president in 1971 following a coup; after his death in 2000 Assad's son Bashar took over the presidency; his rule was challenged (from 2012) by an uprising that led to a civil war. Official language: Arabic. Religion: Muslim majority. Currency: Syrian pound. Capital: Damascus. Pop: 22 457 336 (2013 est). Area: 185 180 sq km (71 498 sq miles)
(formerly) the region between the Mediterranean, the Euphrates, the Taurus, and the Arabian Desert

Cultural definitions for damascus (1 of 3)

Damascus

An ancient city in Syria (and still its capital today). The Apostle Paul, then an official called Saul, was on his way from Jerusalem (see also Jerusalem) to Damascus to arrest Christians (see also Christian). He underwent a dramatic conversion on the road, in which he fell from his horse, saw a dazzling light, and “heard a voice saying unto him, ‘Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? ... I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.’”

notes for Damascus

The “road to Damascus” is an image for a sudden turning point in a person's life.

Cultural definitions for damascus (2 of 3)

Damascus

Capital of Syria and largest city in the country, located in southwestern Syria; the country's administrative, financial, and communications center.

notes for Damascus

Inhabited since prehistoric times, Damascus is widely regarded as the world's oldest city.

Cultural definitions for damascus (3 of 3)

Syria

Republic in the Middle East, bordered by Turkey to the northwest, north, and northeast; Iraq to the east and south; Jordan to the south; and Israel, the Mediterranean Sea, and Lebanon to the west. Its capital and largest city is Damascus.

notes for Syria

Syria was established from former Ottoman Empire territory in 1920 but dominated by France until the 1940s. It is extremely hostile toward Israel.

notes for Syria

In the Six-Day War, in 1967, Israeli troops dislodged Syrian forces from the Golan Heights, which overlook Israeli territory.