Mediterranean

adjective

Med·​i·​ter·​ra·​nean ˌme-də-tə-ˈrā-nē-ən 

-nyən

1

a

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the Mediterranean Sea

Mediterranean water

a Mediterranean port city

Mediterranean islands

b

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the peoples, lands, or cultures bordering the Mediterranean Sea

Mediterranean cuisines

Mediterranean villas

the Mediterranean climate

2

mediterranean [Latin mediterraneus, from medius middle + terra land — more at terrace entry 1] : enclosed or nearly enclosed with land

It is a sea nearly as mediterranean as that which lies between Africa and Europe.

—Waldo Frank

3

: of or relating to a Caucasian (see caucasian sense 2) group or physical type characterized by medium or short stature, slender build, relatively long head, and dark complexion

her Mediterranean looks

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing Mediterranean

• Mediterranean diet
• Mediterranean flour moth
• Mediterranean fruit fly

Rhymes for Mediterranean

• cenomanian
• lithuanian
• pennsylvanian
• pomeranian
• subterranean
• romanian
• roumanian
• rumanian
• ukrainian

Kids Definition

Mediterranean

adjective

Med·​i·​ter·​ra·​nean ˌmed-ə-tə-ˈrā-nē-ən 

-ˈrā-nyən

: of or relating to the Mediterranean Sea or to the lands or peoples around it