Israel

geographical name

Is·​ra·​el ˈiz-rē(-ə)l 

-(ˌ)rā(-ə)l

also ˈis-

or ˈiz-rəl

1

kingdom in ancient Palestine comprising the lands occupied by the Hebrew people; established about 1025 b.c.; divided about 933 b.c. into a southern kingdom (Judah) and a northern kingdom (Israel)

2

or Northern Kingdom or Ephraim

ˈē-frē-əm 

the northern portion of the Hebrew kingdom after the division; capital Samaria

3

country in southwestern Asia bordering on the Mediterranean Sea in the northwest, the Sinai Peninsula in the southwest, the Gulf of Aqaba at the southern tip, and the Dead Sea on the east; a republic established 1948; capital Jerusalem area 7993 square miles (20,782 square kilometers), population 7,412,200 see palestine see also israeli