Main Entry: Be·nin

Pronunciation: \bə-ˈnēn, -ˈnin; ˈbe-nin\

Function: geographical name

1 river about 100 miles (161 kilometers) S Nigeria W of the Niger flowing into Bight of Benin
2 former kingdom W Africa on lower Niger River; incorporated in Nigeria after 1897
3or formerly Da·ho·mey \də-ˈhō-mē\ country W Africa on Gulf of Guinea; a republic, formerly a territory of French West Africa ∗ Porto-Novo area 43,483 square miles (112,621 square kilometers), population 6,769,914
4or Benin City city SW Nigeria in W delta of Niger River population 202,800

— Be·ni·nese \bə-ˌni-ˈnēz, -ˌnē-, -ˈnēs; ˌbe-ni-ˈnēz, -ˈnēs\ adjective or noun