Ma·cao also Ma·cau (m -kou ) An administrative region of southeast China comprising Macao Peninsula and two offshore islands in the South China Sea west of Hong Kong. A Portuguese trading post was established here in 1557 and became a free port in 1849. Macao was a Portuguese overseas province until 1999, when it reverted to Chinese sovereignty. The city of Macao, coextensive with the peninsula, is the capital. Population: 457,000. |
Macao [məˈkaʊ]
n
(Placename) a special administrative region of S China, across the estuary of the Zhu Jiang from Hong Kong: chief centre of European trade with China in the 18th century; attained partial autonomy in 1976; formerly (until 1999) a Portuguese overseas province; transit trade with China; tourism and financial services. Pop.: 445 000 (2001 est.). Area: 16 sq. km (6 sq. miles) Portuguese name Macáu
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| Noun | 1. |  Macao - a former Portuguese province on the south coast of China and two islands in the South China Sea; reverted to China in 1999 |
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