Sahara

[ suh-har-uh, -hair-uh, -hahr-uh ]

noun

1. a desert in northern Africa, extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the Nile valley. About 3,500,000 square miles (9,065,000 square kilometers).
2. any arid waste.

Sahara

/ səˈhɑːrə /

noun

1. a desert in N Africa, extending from the Atlantic to the Red Sea and from the Mediterranean to central Mali, Niger, Chad, and the Sudan: the largest desert in the world, occupying over a quarter of Africa; rises to over 3300 m (11 000 ft) in the central mountain system of the Ahaggar and Tibesti massifs; large reserves of iron ore, oil, and natural gas. Area: 9 100 000 sq km (3 500 000 sq miles). Average annual rainfall: less than 254 mm (10 in.). Highest recorded temperature: 58°C (136.4°F)

Sahara

1. Desert in northern Africa .

Notes

At approximately 3.5 million square miles, it is the world's largest desert.

Other Words From

• Sa·haran Sa·hari·an adjective
• trans-Sa·hara adjective
• trans-Sa·haran adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sahara¹

From Arabic ṣaḥra (plural ṣaḥārā ) “desert”

Example Sentences

Scientists have found microbes that started in the Sahara, for example, landing in the Caribbean.

From Science News For Students

A big remaining question is whether and how it might cross the Sahara.

From Vox

Typically, the southern edge of the Sahara doesn’t have much vegetation.

From Vox

Scientists have found microorganisms from the Sahara in the Caribbean, for example.

From Science News

He managed an isolated refueling station in the western Sahara before transferring in 1929 to Argentina, where a team of pilots established long-distance links to Patagonia.

From Washington Post

It had taken the camels and their black-turbaned Berber herders four long days to walk from the Sahara.

From The Daily Beast

But Morocco stands firmly on claims that it has historic links to the Western Sahara dating back many centuries.

From The Daily Beast

Accounts emerge from the harrowing Islamist attack on an oil field in the Sahara Desert.

From The Daily Beast

The American Interest reports that vast aquifers of water have been found beneath the Sahara desert.

From The Daily Beast

He was happy when the Khawams opened a series of restaurants of their own, all called Sahara.

From The Daily Beast

Thus many artesian wells have been sunk in the Algerian Sahara which have proved an immense boon to the district.

From Project Gutenberg

Richmond is, to me, a Sahara, whose single fountain of sweet waters springs up within your sister's home.

From Project Gutenberg

Except in extent, a journey across it is similar to that of the parched caravans across the flaming sands of Sahara.

From Project Gutenberg

Special bivouac amateur bouillon danger must have Sahara easily Groener arms impossible.

From Project Gutenberg

Not unworthy of rejoicing the eyes of the most fastidious connoisseurs, it lives and dies unknown in the solitudes of the Sahara.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• wilderness