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Near East vs. Middle East

Near East

[ neer-eest ]
noun
  1. an indefinite geographical or regional term, usually referring to the countries of southwestern Asia, including Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia and the other nations of Arabia.

Middle East

[ mid-l eest ]
noun
  1. (loosely) the area from Libya east to Afghanistan, usually including Egypt, Sudan, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the other countries of Arabia.
  2. (formerly) the area including Iran, Afghanistan, India, Tibet, and Myanmar (Burma).