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

America recognised Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara in exchange for Rabat signing the Abraham Accords and thereby recognising Israel.

From BBC

Macron's invitation to Morocco came from King Mohammed VI, two months after his royal court hailed France's change of heart on Western Sahara as a "significant" development.

From BBC

Today, the African Union is the only international organisation to recognise Western Sahara as a state in its own right.

From BBC

Western Sahara is a territory on the north-western coast of Africa that has been the subject of a decades-long dispute.

From BBC

Signalling a change in France's long-held stance on Morocco's plan to grant Western Sahara autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, the French president said it was the "only basis" for a just and lasting political settlement.

From BBC

Related Words

• wilderness