Er·i·tre·a ( r  -tr   ) A country of northeast Africa bordering on the Red Sea. Once part of the Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum, it became an Italian colony in 1890 and was named after the Roman term for the Red Sea, Mare erythraeum. Captured by the British during World War II, Eritrea later became a federated part (1952) and then a province (1962) of Ethiopia, from which it gained its independence in 1993. Asmara is the capital and largest city. Population: 4,910,000. Er i·trean adj. & n. |   |
Eritrea [ˌɛrɪˈtreɪə]
n
(Placename) a small country in NE Africa, on the Red Sea: became an Italian colony in 1890; federated with Ethiopia (1952-93); an independence movement was engaged in war with the Ethiopian government from 1961 until independence was gained in 1993; consists of hot and arid coastal lowlands, rising to the foothills of the Ethiopian highlands. Languages: Arabic, English, Afar, and others. Religions: Muslim and Christian. Currency: nakfa. Capital: Asmara. Pop.: 4 298 000 (2001 est.). Area: 117 400 sq. km (45 300 sq. miles)
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  Eritrea - an African country to the north of Ethiopia on the Red Sea; achieved independence from Ethiopia in 1993Massawa - a port town in Eritrea on an inlet of the Red Sea Horn of Africa, Somali peninsula - a peninsula of northeastern Africa (the easternmost part of Africa) comprising Somalia and Djibouti and Eritrea and parts of Ethiopia Eritrean - a native or inhabitant of Eritrea |
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