divan

noun

di·van | \ di-ˈvan

How to pronounce divan (audio)

, ˈdī-ˌvan

How to pronounce divan (audio)

, especially in senses 1, 2, and 4 also di-ˈvän, dī-ˈvan \

Definition of divan

1a : the privy council of the Ottoman Empire

b : council

2 : a council chamber

3 : a large couch usually without back or arms often designed for use as a bed

4 : a collection of poems in Persian or Arabic usually by one author

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Examples of divan in a Sentence

whenever I stayed over at their house I usually slept on the divan in the living room

Recent Examples on the Web Passenger seating was 2 fouroccupant divans, one facing forward, the other rearward. — New York Times, "Read the Preliminary N.T.S.B. Report About the Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash," 7 Feb. 2020 But a few hours later, while Maleficent dozed on a divan, wings folded as tightly against her back as a bird’s, Aurora was still wide-awake. — David Canfield, EW.com, "Exclusive: Get a first look at Holly Black's original Maleficent novel," 7 Aug. 2019 One hotel manager began walking outside to get from one end of the building to the other, to avoid passing through the lobby, where persnickety widows would invariably be positioned on the divans, ready to greet him with a barrage of complaints. — Julie Satow, New York Times, "The Widows of the Plaza Hotel," 7 June 2019 Ask your spouse to please address you as a divan potato. 16. — WSJ, "101 Ways to Live, Work and Goof Off More Ambitiously," 26 Oct. 2018 The job interview happened in a hotel lobby, in front of dozens of strangers, on a couple of chairs, near some tasteful divans. — Dan Steinberg, chicagotribune.com, "So what else do NFL team employees ask prospective players in those interviews?," 8 Mar. 2018 The bi-level establishment houses both a restaurant and craft cocktail bar, with a hidden whiskey divan behind a discreet door. — Christina Liao, Vogue, "Where to Go to Savor Siu Yeh, Hong Kong’s Late-Night Meal," 10 Feb. 2018 Indoor palm trees, eclectically upholstered divans, warm lighting and close-quarter seating make for a lush, intimate and sophisticated space. — Carlos Frías, miamiherald, "We rated 11 favorite Miami Spice restaurants so you don’t have to," 23 Aug. 2017 De la Fressange took her time furnishing the place, mixing antiques and vintage pieces, many acquired from eBay and flea markets, with divans and armchairs from the Paris shop Caravane and classic striped fabrics. — Elle Decor Staff, ELLE Decor, "Taking it Easy," 29 Dec. 2011

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'divan.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Divan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/divan. Accessed 22 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for divan

divan

noun

English Language Learners Definition of divan

: a long, low seat that has no back or arms or only part of a back and one arm

British : a bed that has a thick base and usually no footboard

See the full definition for divan in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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