Tu·ni·sia (t -n  zh , -sh, ty-) A country of northern Africa bordering on the Mediterranean Sea. Settled in ancient times by the Phoenicians and dominated after the 6th century b.c. by the Carthaginians, the area later fell to the Romans (2nd century b.c.), Vandals (5th century a.d.), and Byzantines (6th century) before being conquered by the Arabs in the 7th century. Tunisia was taken over by the Ottoman Turks in the late 16th century and, as one of the Barbary States, was used as a base by pirates raiding ships in the Mediterranean. It became a French protectorate in 1881 and achieved full independence in 1956. Tunis is the capital and the largest city. Population: 10,300,000. |   |
Tunisia [tjuːˈnɪzɪə -ˈnɪsɪə]
n
(Placename) a republic in N Africa, on the Mediterranean: settled by the Phoenicians in the 12th century bc; made a French protectorate in 1881 and gained independence in 1955. It consists chiefly of the Sahara in the south, a central plateau, and the Atlas Mountains in the north. Exports include textiles, petroleum, and phosphates. Official language: Arabic; French is also widely spoken. Official religion: Muslim. Currency: dinar. Capital: Tunis. Pop.: 9 828 000 (1998 est.). Area: 164 150 sq. km (63 380 sq. miles)
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| Noun | 1. |  Tunisia - a republic in northwestern Africa on the Mediterranean coast; achieved independence from France in 1956; "southern Tunisia is mostly desert"battle of Zama, Zama - the battle in 202 BC in which Scipio decisively defeated Hannibal at the end of the second Punic War Arab League - an international organization of independent Arab states formed in 1945 to promote cultural and economic and military and political and social cooperation Maghreb, Mahgrib - the region of northwest Africa comprising the Atlas Mountains and the coastlands of Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia capital of Tunisia, Tunis - the capital and principal port of Tunisia Ariana - city in Tunisia Ehadhamen - city in Tunisia Gafsa - a city in west central Tunisia Safaqis, Sfax - the second largest city in Tunisia; located in eastern Tunisia near a phosphate region Atlas Mountains - a mountain range in northern Africa between the Mediterranean and the Sahara Desert; extends from southwestern Morocco to northern Tunisia Tunisian - a native or inhabitant of Tunisia |
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