Mecca

[ mek-uh ]
/ ˈmɛk ə /

noun

Also Makkah, Mekka. a city in and the capital of Hejaz, in W Saudi Arabia: birthplace of Muhammad; spiritual center of Islam.
(often lowercase) any place that many people visit or hope to visit: The president's birthplace is a mecca for his admirers.

OTHER WORDS FROM Mecca

Mec·can, adjective, noun

Definition for mecca (2 of 2)

Hijaz

or He·djaz, He·jaz

[ hee-jaz; Arabic hee-zhahz ]
/ hiˈdʒæz; Arabic hiˈʒɑz /

noun

a region in Saudi Arabia bordering on the Red Sea, formerly an independent kingdom: contains the Islamic holy cities of Medina and Mecca. About 150,000 sq. mi. (388,500 sq. km). Capital: Mecca.

Example sentences from the Web for mecca

British Dictionary definitions for mecca (1 of 2)

Mecca

Mekka

/ (ˈmɛkə) /

noun

a city in W Saudi Arabia, joint capital (with Riyadh) of Saudi Arabia: birthplace of Mohammed; the holiest city of Islam, containing the Kaaba. Pop: 1 529 000 (2005 est) Arabic name: Makkah
(sometimes not capital) a place that attracts many visitors Athens is a Mecca for tourists

British Dictionary definitions for mecca (2 of 2)

Hijaz
/ (hiːˈdʒæz) /

noun

a variant spelling of Hejaz

Cultural definitions for mecca (1 of 2)

Mecca

The birthplace of Muhammad, and thus the holiest city for Muslims. Muslims face in the direction of Mecca when they pray, and they are expected to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lives. Mecca is in present-day Saudi Arabia.

notes for Mecca

Figuratively, a “mecca” is any place that attracts a great many people, especially for a particular reason: “Vail is a mecca for skiers.”

Cultural definitions for mecca (2 of 2)

Mecca

City in western Saudi Arabia.

notes for Mecca

As the place where Mohammed the prophet was born in the sixth century, it is the holiest city of Islam and the destination of numerous Muslim pilgrims.

notes for Mecca

A “mecca” is a place that attracts people: “ Hollywood is a mecca for would-be actors and actresses.”