divan

noun di·van \ di-ˈvan , ˈdī-ˌvan , especially in senses 1, 2, and 4 also di-ˈvän , dī-ˈvan \

Updated on: 18 Mar 2018

Definition of divan

1 a : 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 of divan from the Web

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
Expect cabins overflowing with drapes, cake tier stands, divans and friezes and a dining car that works minor miracles with local produce to create meals that would satisfy even the most demanding of kings or emirs.

— rob crossan, CNN, "6 Silk Road secrets: Traveling in Central Asia's Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan," 5 June 2017
The Ladies of Lodge are fretting on the divan, hoping Daddy Skeet's arrest doesn't make things worse for Mr. Lodge.

— amy watts, baltimoresun.com, "'Riverdale' recap: Homecoming drama," 28 Apr. 2017
The artists Kenya (Robinson) and Doreen Garner are sitting mock-regally on a divan in a moody Gramercy cocktail bar.

— adam davidson, The New Yorker, "The Podcast as Performance Art," 28 Jan. 2017
Further innovations are the flexible, swing-out tables and the attractive entertainment area with a three-seat divan.

— matthew phenix, WIRED, "BMW, Embraer Conceive Ultimate Flying Machine," 22 Oct. 2007

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.