Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A Greek island: A large island in the southeastern Aegean Sea, part of the Dodecanese island group, historically significant as the site of the Colossus of Rhodes.
   • A person's surname: Cecil Rhodes, a 19th-century British businessman, mining magnate, and politician in southern Africa.

Usage Examples

• As a geographical location:
  • We spent our vacation on the beautiful island of Rhodes.
  • The ancient Colossus of Rhodes was one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
• As a personal name:
  • Cecil Rhodes played a controversial role in the history of southern Africa.
  • The Rhodes Scholarship was established by the will of Cecil Rhodes.

Advanced Usage

• "Rhodes scholar": A person who holds a Rhodes Scholarship, an international postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford.
  • She is a Rhodes scholar studying international relations.

Variants and Related Words

• Rhodian (adj): Of or relating to the island of Rhodes.
  • The museum displayed Rhodian pottery from the classical period.

Synonyms

• Geographical: Isle of Rhodes.
• Personal: Cecil John Rhodes.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The primary modern use refers to the Greek island, a popular tourist destination.
• The reference to Cecil Rhodes is primarily historical and is most commonly encountered in the context of the Rhodes Scholarship or discussions of British colonialism in Africa. The two meanings are distinct and context-dependent.

Noun

1. a Greek island in the southeast Aegean Sea 10 miles off the Turkish coast; the largest of the Dodecanese; it was colonized before 1000 BC by Dorians from Argos; site of the Colossus of Rhodes
2. British colonial financier and statesman in South Africa; made a fortune in gold and diamond mining; helped colonize the territory now known as Zimbabwe; he endowed annual fellowships for British Commonwealth and United States students to study at Oxford University (1853-1902)