Istanbul

[ is-tahn-bool, -tan-; is-tahn-boo l, -tan-; Turkish is-tahm-boo l ]
/ ˌɪs tɑnˈbul, -tæn-; ˈɪs tɑnˌbʊl, -tæn-; Turkish ɪsˈtɑm bʊl /

noun

a port in NW Turkey, on both sides of the Bosporus: built by Constantine I on the site of ancient Byzantium; capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and of the Ottoman Empire; capital removed to Ankara 1923.
Also Stambul, Stamboul.
Formerly Constantinople.

Example sentences from the Web for istanbul

British Dictionary definitions for istanbul

Istanbul
/ (ˌɪstænˈbuːl) /

noun

a port in NW Turkey, on the western (European) shore of the Bosporus: the largest city in Turkey; founded in about 660 bc by Greeks; refounded by Constantine the Great in 330 ad as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire; taken by the Turks in 1453 and remained capital of the Ottoman Empire until 1922; industrial centre for shipbuilding, textiles, etc. Pop: 9 760 000 (2005 est)) Ancient name: Byzantium Former name (330–1926): Constantinople

Cultural definitions for istanbul

Istanbul
[ (is-tahm-bool, is-tam-bool, is-tahm-boohl, is-tam-boohl) ]

Largest city in Turkey, located in the northwestern part of the country on both sides of the Bosporus.

notes for Istanbul

Formerly called Byzantium, then Constantinople, the city was the capital consecutively of the eastern branch of the Roman Empire, of the Byzantine Empire, and of the Ottoman Empire.

notes for Istanbul

It is the seat of the Eastern Orthodox Church.