Zan·zi·bar (z n z -bär )1. A region of eastern Africa, comprising Zanzibar Island and several adjacent islands off the northeast coast of Tanzania. Arab and Portuguese traders visited the region in early times, and it was controlled by Omanis in the 18th and 19th centuries. Britain established a protectorate (1890) that became an independent sultanate in December 1963 and a republic after an uprising in January 1964. In April 1964 it joined Tanganyika to form a new republic that was renamed Tanzania in October 1964. 2. A city of Tanzania on the western coast of Zanzibar Island. Founded in the 16th century as a Portuguese trading post, it was a major center of the East African ivory trade in the 19th century. Population: 205,000. |
Zanzibar [ˌzænzɪˈbɑː]
n
(Placename) an island in the Indian Ocean, off the E coast of Africa: settled by Persians and Arabs from the 7th century onwards; became a flourishing trading centre for slaves, ivory, and cloves; made a British protectorate in 1890, becoming independent within the Commonwealth in 1963 and a republic in 1964; joined with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania. Pop.: 456 934 (1995 est.)
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| Noun | 1. | Zanzibar - an island in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa; part of the United Republic of Tanzania Tanzania, United Republic of Tanzania - a republic in eastern Africa |
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