Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • Capital city of the state of North Carolina, USA: A city located in the east central part of North Carolina, serving as the state's political and administrative center.
   • Sir Walter Raleigh (1552-1618): An English statesman, soldier, writer, and explorer who was a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. He was instrumental in early English attempts to colonize North America and is credited with introducing potatoes and tobacco to England and Ireland.

Usage Examples

• As a place name:
  • The state government offices are located in Raleigh.
  • We flew into Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
• As a personal name:
  • Raleigh organized several expeditions to the New World.
  • The life of Sir Walter Raleigh is studied in history classes.

Advanced Usage

• "The Raleigh area": Refers to the metropolitan region surrounding the city.
  • The tech industry is growing rapidly in the Raleigh area.
• Historical reference to Sir Walter Raleigh's ventures:
  • The Roanoke Colony, often called the "Lost Colony," was sponsored by Raleigh.

Variants and Related Words

• Raleighean (adj, rare): Pertaining to Sir Walter Raleigh or his era.
• Raleighite (noun, informal): A resident of the city of Raleigh, North Carolina.

Synonyms

• State capital (for the city): The city where a state's government is seated.
• Courtier, explorer, adventurer (for Sir Walter Raleigh): Words describing his various roles.

Related Phrases

• The Raleigh Ring: A historical term sometimes used for the circle of poets and writers associated with Sir Walter Raleigh.
• Raleigh's colony: Refers specifically to the late 16th-century English settlement attempts in present-day North Carolina, USA.

Related Idioms

• "To lay down one's cloak like Raleigh": An allusion to the (likely apocryphal) story where Sir Walter Raleigh spread his cloak over a puddle for Queen Elizabeth I. It is used to describe an act of extravagant chivalry or gallantry.
  • He was so smitten that he would have laid down his cloak like Raleigh for her.

Noun

1. capital of the state of North Carolina; located in the east central part of the North Carolina
2. English courtier (a favorite of Elizabeth I) who tried to colonize Virginia; introduced potatoes and tobacco to England (1552-1618)