Istanbul
geographical nameIs·tan·bul | \ ˌi-stən-ˈbül 
, -ˌstan-, -ˌstän-, -ˈbu̇l, ˈi-stən-ˌbül, -ˌbu̇l, or with m for n \
, -ˌstan-, -ˌstän-, -ˈbu̇l, ˈi-stən-ˌbül, -ˌbu̇l, or with m for n \variants:
or formerly Constantinople \ ˌkän-ˌstan-tə-ˈnō-pəl \ or ancient Byzantium \ bə-ˈzan-tē-əm , -ˈzan-sh(ē-)əm \
\ or ancient Byzantium \ bə-ˈzan-tē-əm , -ˈzan-sh(ē-)əm \Definition of Istanbul
city in northwestern Turkey partly in Europe and partly in Asia on the Bosporus and the Sea of Marmara; capital of Turkey before its independence in 1923 and earlier capital of the Ottoman Empire population 12,500,000
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