Jerusalem
[ ji-roo-suh-luh m, -zuh- ]
/ dʒɪˈru sə ləm, -zə- /
noun
a city in and the capital of Israel: an ancient holy city and a center of pilgrimage for Jews, Christians, and Muslims; divided between Israel and Jordan 1948–67; Jordanian sector annexed by Israel 1967; capital of Israel since 1950.
OTHER WORDS FROM Jerusalem
Je·ru·sa·lem·ite, adjective, nounDefinition for jerusalem (2 of 2)
Israel
[ iz-ree-uh l, -rey- ]
/ ˈɪz ri əl, -reɪ- /
noun
a republic in SW Asia, on the Mediterranean: formed as a Jewish state May 1948. 7984 sq. mi. (20,679 sq. km). Capital: Jerusalem.
the people traditionally descended from Jacob; the Hebrew or Jewish people.
a name given to Jacob after he had wrestled with the angel. Gen. 32:28.
the northern kingdom of the Hebrews, including 10 of the 12 tribes, sometimes called by the name of the chief tribe, Ephraim. Capital: Samaria.
a group considered by its members or by others as God's chosen people.
a male given name.
Origin of Israel
before 1000; Middle English, Old English < Latin
Isrāēl < Greek
Isrāḗl < Hebrew
Yisrā'ēl literally, God perseveres
OTHER WORDS FROM Israel
pro-Is·ra·el, adjectiveBritish Dictionary definitions for jerusalem (1 of 2)
Jerusalem
/ (dʒəˈruːsələm) /
noun
the de facto capital of Israel (recognition of this has been withheld by the United Nations), situated in the Judaean hills: became capital of the Hebrew kingdom after its capture by David around 1000 bc; destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 586 bc; taken by the Romans in 63 bc; devastated in 70 ad and 135 ad during the Jewish rebellions against Rome; fell to the Arabs in 637 and to the Seljuk Turks in 1071; ruled by Crusaders from 1099 to 1187 and by the Egyptians and Turks until conquered by the British (1917); centre of the British mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948, when the Arabs took the old city and the Jews held the new city; unified after the Six Day War (1967) under the Israelis; the holy city of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Pop: 693 200 (2003 est)
- the New Jerusalem Christianity Heaven
- any ideal city
British Dictionary definitions for jerusalem (2 of 2)
Israel
/ (ˈɪzreɪəl, -rɪəl) /
noun
a republic in SW Asia, on the Mediterranean Sea: established in 1948, in the former British mandate of Palestine, as a primarily Jewish state; 8 disputes with Arab neighbours (who did not recognize the state of Israel), erupted into full-scale wars in 1948, 1956, 1967 (the Six Day War), and 1973 (the Yom Kippur War). In 1993 Israel agreed to grant autonomous status to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, according to the terms of a peace agreement with the PLO. Official languages: Hebrew and Arabic. Religion: Jewish majority, Muslim and Christian minorities. Currency: shekel. Capital: Jerusalem (international recognition withheld as East Jerusalem was annexed (1967) by Israel: UN recognized capital: Tel Aviv). Pop: 7 707 042 (2013 est). Area (including Golan Heights and East Jerusalem): 21 946 sq km (8473 sq miles)
- the ancient kingdom of the 12 Hebrew tribes at the SE end of the Mediterranean
- the kingdom in the N part of this region formed by the ten northern tribes of Israel in the 10th century bc and destroyed by the Assyrians in 721 bc
informal
the Jewish community throughout the world
Cultural definitions for jerusalem (1 of 4)
Jerusalem
A holy city for Jews (see also Jews), Christians (see also Christian), and Muslims; the capital of the ancient kingdom of Judah and of the modern state of Israel. The name means “city of peace.” Jerusalem is often called Zion; Mount Zion is the hill on which the fortress of the city was built.
notes for Jerusalem
notes for Jerusalem
The “New Jerusalem” is mentioned in the Book of
Revelation as the heavenly city, to be established at the end of time.
Cultural definitions for jerusalem (2 of 4)
Jerusalem
Capital of Israel and largest city in the country, located on a ridge west of the Dead Sea and the Jordan River (see also Jordan River). (See also under “The Bible.”)
notes for Jerusalem
The site of the city has been occupied since the
Bronze Age.
notes for Jerusalem
notes for Jerusalem
Known as the “Holy City,” it is sacred to
Jews (see also
Jews),
Christians (see also
Christian), and
Muslims.
notes for Jerusalem
Conquest of Jerusalem was the goal of the early
Crusades during the
Middle Ages.
notes for Jerusalem
After the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, Jerusalem was divided between Israel and
Jordan. Following the
Arab-Israeli conflict of 1967, Israel annexed the remainder of the city.
notes for Jerusalem
The city is famous for its many sacred sights and shrines, including the
Western Wall, the
Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the Dome of the Rock.
Cultural definitions for jerusalem (3 of 4)
Israel
The name given to Jacob after he wrestled with God. Israel is also the name of the northern kingdom of the Israelites, when their nation was split in two after the death of King Solomon. (See under “World Geography.”)
Cultural definitions for jerusalem (4 of 4)
Israel
Republic in the Middle East, formerly part of Palestine. Israel is bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria and Jordan to the east, the Gulf of Aqaba (an arm of the Red Sea) to the south, Egypt (see also Egypt) to the southwest, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Its capital and largest city is Jerusalem (see also Jerusalem).
notes for Israel
The state of Israel, a homeland for
Jews (see also
Jews) worldwide, was proclaimed in 1948. Since then, conflict has arisen because of opposition by the surrounding Arab peoples to the formation of a Jewish state on what they consider Arab territory (
see
Arab-Israeli conflict).
notes for Israel
As a move toward permanent peace between Israel and the Arab states, Israeli
Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar
Sadat met with U. S. President James Earl
Carter in the United States and signed a peace treaty in 1979.
notes for Israel
The United States has been Israel's major supporter, but Israeli settlements on the West Bank strained U.S.-Israel relations.