Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Relating to or written in the alphabet used for writing Slavic languages: "Cyrillic" describes anything connected to the specific writing system used for languages like Russian, Bulgarian, and Serbian.
   • Of or pertaining to the Cyrillic script: It characterizes the style, form, or origin of this alphabet.

2. Noun:

   • An alphabet derived from the Greek alphabet and used for writing Slavic languages: "Cyrillic" is the name of the writing system itself, used for Russian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Ukrainian, and other Slavic languages.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The museum displayed ancient Cyrillic manuscripts. (The manuscripts were written in the Cyrillic script.)
  • Learning the Cyrillic letters is the first step to reading Russian. (The letters belong to the Cyrillic alphabet.)

• Noun:

  • She learned to read and write in Cyrillic. (She learned the Cyrillic writing system.)
  • Cyrillic is used by over 250 million people. (The alphabet named Cyrillic has many users.)

Advanced Usage

• "Cyrillic-based": Describing an alphabet or writing system that is derived from or built upon the Cyrillic script.
  • The modern Uzbek alphabet is Cyrillic-based.
• "Written in Cyrillic": A common phrase to specify the script used for a text.
  • The street signs are written in Cyrillic and Latin scripts.

Variants and Related Words

• Cyrillic alphabet (n): The full term for the writing system.
  • The Cyrillic alphabet has 33 letters in its Russian variant.
• Cyrillic script (n): A synonym for the Cyrillic alphabet, emphasizing it as a system of writing.
  • The Cyrillic script was developed in the First Bulgarian Empire.

Synonyms

• Slavic alphabet (n): A descriptive synonym, though less precise as not all Slavic languages use it (e.g., Polish uses Latin script).
• Kirin (n): A transliteration used in some languages, like Vietnamese.

Related Phrases

• To transliterate into Cyrillic: To write words from another alphabet using Cyrillic characters.
  • His name was transliterated into Cyrillic for his Russian visa.
• Cyrillic character: An individual letter or symbol from the Cyrillic alphabet.
  • The Cyrillic character 'Ж' represents a sound not found in English.

Adjective

1. relating to or written in the alphabet used for writing Slavic languages
   • Cyrillic writing

Noun

1. an alphabet derived from the Greek alphabet and used for writing Slavic languages (Russian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Ukrainian, and some other Slavic languages)