Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • The capital city of Canada: Ottawa is the federal capital of Canada, situated in southeastern Ontario on the south bank of the Ottawa River, directly across from the province of Quebec.
   • A river in southeastern Canada: The Ottawa River is a major waterway that forms a significant part of the boundary between the provinces of Ontario and Quebec before flowing into the Saint Lawrence River.
   • A member of an Algonquian people: An Ottawa is a person belonging to the Odawa (or Ottawa) people, an Indigenous nation originally from the area around the Great Lakes, particularly southern Ontario.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun (City):
  • The Parliament of Canada is located in Ottawa.
  • She moved to Ottawa to work for the government.
• Proper noun (River):
  • We went canoeing on the Ottawa River.
  • The Ottawa is a major tributary of the Saint Lawrence.
• Proper noun (People):
  • He is an Ottawa and speaks the language fluently.
  • The Ottawa have a rich cultural history in the region.

Advanced Usage

• "Ottawa Valley": Refers to the region surrounding the Ottawa River, known for its distinct dialect and culture.
  • The Ottawa Valley accent is quite unique.
• "Ottawa Citizen": The name of a major daily newspaper published in the city.
  • I read about it in the Ottawa Citizen.

Variants and Related Words

• Ottawan (noun): A native or inhabitant of the city of Ottawa.
  • As an Ottawan, she loves skating on the Rideau Canal.
• Odawa: An alternate spelling for the name of the Indigenous people, often used in academic or cultural contexts.
  • The Odawa tradition of storytelling is vital.

Synonyms

• Capital: (for the city) The seat of government.
• Waterway: (for the river) A river, canal, or other route for travel by water.
• Indigenous person / First Nations person: (for the people member) A broader term for original inhabitants.

Related Phrases

• "Up the Ottawa": An informal phrase meaning to travel north along the Ottawa River.
  • Their cottage is up the Ottawa.
• "Ottawa-based": Describes an organization or entity whose headquarters or main operations are in the city.
  • It's an Ottawa-based technology company.

Noun

1. the capital of Canada (located in southeastern Ontario across the Ottawa river from Quebec)
2. a river in southeastern Canada that flows along the boundary between Quebec and Ontario to the Saint Lawrence River near Montreal
3. a member of the Algonquian people of southern Ontario