Tripoli

[ trip-uh-lee ]

noun

1. Also Trip·o·li·ta·ni·a [] one of the former Barbary States of N Africa: later a province of Turkey; now a part of Libya.
2. a seaport in and the capital of Libya, in the NW part.
3. a seaport in N Lebanon, on the Mediterranean.
4. (lowercase) any of several siliceous substances, as rottenstone and infusorial earth, used chiefly in polishing.

tripoli

¹

/ ˈtrɪpəlɪ /

noun

1. a lightweight porous siliceous rock derived by weathering and used in a powdered form as a polish, filter, etc

Tripoli

²

/ ˈtrɪpəlɪ /

noun

1. the capital and chief port of Libya, in the northwest on the Mediterranean: founded by Phoenicians in about the 7th century bc ; the only city that has survived of the three (Oea, Leptis Magna, and Sabratha) that formed the African Tripolis ("three cities"); fishing and manufacturing centre. Pop: 1 223 300 (2002 est) Ancient nameOeaˈiːə Arabic nameTarabulus el Gharb
2. a port in N Lebanon, on the Mediterranean: the second largest town in Lebanon; taken by the Crusaders in 1109 after a siege of five years; oil-refining and manufacturing centre. Pop: 212 000 (2005 est) Ancient nameTripolis Arabic nameTarabulus esh Sham

Tripoli

1. Capital of Libya and the largest city in the country, located in northwestern Libya.

Notes

The city dates back to the seventh century b.c.

United States war planes attacked Tripoli in 1986 in retaliation for Libyan terrorist acts against American citizens.

Other Words From

• Tri·pol·i·tan [trih-, pol, -i-tn], noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tripoli¹

C17: named after Tripoli , in Libya or in Lebanon

Example Sentences

In 2019, for example, Turkey sent the drones to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord in Libya, despite a United Nations arms embargo.

From ProPublica

The summer wedding of a prominent Christian event manager to her Sunni love from Tripoli was widely celebrated.

From The Daily Beast

But a few weeks later the United States shuttered its embassy in Tripoli.

From The Daily Beast

Tripoli is barely functioning: food shops are running low and fuel is hard to find.

From The Daily Beast

On Monday more than 100 missiles were reported to have fallen on the Tripoli district of Janzour alone.

From The Daily Beast

Tripoli, meanwhile, has suffered its terrifying descent into chaos.

From The Daily Beast

The village of Gibel was totally destroyed, and many houses in Tripoli were tumbled down.

From Project Gutenberg

William Eaton, an American general, died; celebrated for his heroic achievements in the expedition against Tripoli, 1798.

From Project Gutenberg

Looking across the waves, the sailors saw that the flag of Tripoli no longer waved, and three hearty American cheers rang out.

From Project Gutenberg

She was on her way to Malta when she came in sight of a low, long vessel, at whose mast-head floated the flag of Tripoli.

From Project Gutenberg

The men at the guns meanwhile poured in two more broadsides, and once more down came the flag of Tripoli.

From Project Gutenberg