zaire

¹

[ zah-eer, zah-eer ]

noun

, plural za·ire.

1. a paper money and monetary unit of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, equal to 100 makuta.

Zaire

²

or Za·ïre

[ zah-eer, zah-eer ]

noun

1. Republic of Zaire, a former name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
2. official name within the Democratic Republic of the Congo of the Congo River (the term Congo River is more widely used elsewhere).

Zaïre

/ zɑːˈɪə /

noun

1. the former name (1971–97) of the Democratic Republic of Congo
2. (formerly) the Zaïrian name (1971–97) for the (River) Congo

Zaire

1. See Democratic Republic of Congo .

Example Sentences

Last week a young man walked up and asked me outright for three thousand zaires, and once again my jaw dropped.

From Literature

Even the launch of the Congolese franc, which replaced the hyperinflated zaire in 1997, was supported by a musical propaganda campaign.

From Economist

The leopard-emblazoned notes had a face value of up to five million zaires.

From BBC

The Artist signified his willingness to have the mail leave now for St. C�zaire.

From Project Gutenberg

A vessel took us to Cayenne, where we secured a passage on board one of the steamers of the French Transatlantic Aspinwall line, the Ville de St. Na- zaire, which conveyed us to Europe.

From Project Gutenberg