Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A major river in southwestern Asia: The Euphrates is one of the two great rivers (along with the Tigris) defining the historical region of Mesopotamia. It originates in eastern Turkey, flows through Syria and Iraq, and joins the Tigris to form the Shatt al-Arab, which empties into the Persian Gulf.
   • A river of historical and cultural significance: The Euphrates was crucial for irrigation and transportation, supporting the development of some of the world's earliest civilizations, including Sumer, Akkad, Babylon, and Assyria.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The ancient city of Babylon was located on the banks of the Euphrates.
  • Water management projects along the Euphrates are a source of regional tension.
  • Many archaeological sites are found in the Euphrates River valley.

Advanced Usage

• "The Euphrates River": The full name is often used for clarity, though "the Euphrates" is standard.

  • The Tigris and the Euphrates River basin is often called the "Cradle of Civilization."

• Biblical and literary references: The Euphrates is frequently mentioned in religious texts and ancient literature as a boundary or a symbol.

  • In the Book of Genesis, the Euphrates is one of the four rivers of Eden.

Variants and Related Words

• Mesopotamia (n): The historical region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
• Fertile Crescent (n): A crescent-shaped region in the Middle East, including Mesopotamia, known for fertile soil and early civilizations.

Synonyms

• River Euphrates: A formal variant of the name.
• The Great River: A historical epithet used in some ancient texts.

Related Phrases

• "Between the Tigris and Euphrates": A phrase describing the location of Mesopotamia.

  • The first cities emerged between the Tigris and Euphrates.

• "The waters of the Euphrates": A phrase often used in historical or poetic contexts.

  • The empire's wealth depended on the waters of the Euphrates.

Noun

1. a river in southwestern Asia; flows into the Persian Gulf; was important in the development of several great civilizations in ancient Mesopotamia