Bra·zil (br -z l ) A country of eastern South America. The largest country in the continent, it was ruled by Portugal from 1500 to 1822, when it became a separate empire ruled by Pedro I, son of King John VI of Portugal. A republic was established in 1889. Brasília has been the capital since 1960; São Paulo is the largest city. Population: 190,000,000. Bra·zil i·an adj. & n.Word History: The name Brazil is derived from the Portuguese and Spanish word brasil, the name of an East Indian tree with reddish-brown wood from which a red dye was extracted. The Portuguese found a New World tree related to the Old World brasil tree when they explored what is now called Brazil, and as a result they named the New World country after the Old World tree. The word brasil is cognate with French brésil, Old French berzi and bresil, Old Italian verzino, and Medieval Latin brezellum, brasilium, bresillum, braxile. The many Latin forms suggest a non-Latin, non-Romance origin, as in an East Indian term. |   |
Brazilian [brəˈzɪljən]
adj
(Placename) of or relating to Brazil or its inhabitants
n
(Social Science / Peoples) a native or inhabitant of Brazil
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  Brazilian - a native or inhabitant of Brazil Brasil, Brazil, Federative Republic of Brazil - the largest Latin American country and the largest Portuguese speaking country in the world; located in the central and northeastern part of South America; world's leading coffee exporter Carioca - a native or inhabitant of Rio de Janeiro South American - a native or inhabitant of South America |
| Adj. | 1. | Brazilian - of or relating to or characteristic of Brazil or the people of Brazil |
Translations
Brazilian [brəˈzɪlɪən] adj & n → brasiliano/a
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