Main Entry:

Con·go

Pronunciation:

\ˈkäŋ-(ˌ)gō\

Function:

geographical name

1or Zaire river more than 2700 miles (4344 kilometers) central Africa flowing N, W, & SW into the Atlantic — see lualaba2or Democratic Republic of the Congo or 1971–97 Za·ire \zä-ˈir\ or 1908–60 Belgian Congo or 1885–1908 Congo Free State country central Africa comprising most of Congo River basin E of lower Congo River ∗ Kinshasa area 905,356 square miles (2,344,872 square kilometers), population 43,775,0003or Republic of the Congo or formerly Middle Congo country W central Africa W of the lower Congo ∗ Brazzaville area 132,047 square miles (342,002 square kilometers), population 2,775,000 — see french equatorial africa

— Con·go·lese \ˌkäŋ-gə-ˈlēz, -ˈlēs\ adjective or noun