Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • The Pyramids of Egypt: Refers specifically to the monumental stone structures, primarily built as royal tombs during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods of ancient Egypt. The most famous are located at Giza, near Cairo.

Usage

• The term "Pyramids of Egypt" is used as a proper noun to collectively refer to these ancient structures, especially the iconic ones at Giza. It is typically used with the definite article "the."
• It denotes a specific historical and archaeological site, representing one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Pyramids of Egypt are a testament to ancient engineering.
  • Many tourists travel to see the Pyramids of Egypt every year.
  • The construction of the Pyramids of Egypt required immense labor and resources.

Advanced Usage

• "the great Pyramids of Egypt": Often used to emphasize the scale and significance, particularly referring to the Giza pyramid complex.
  • The great Pyramids of Egypt have stood for millennia.

Variants and Related Words

• Pyramid (noun): A monumental structure with a square or triangular base and sloping sides that meet at a point, especially one built as a royal tomb in ancient Egypt.
  • The pyramid was designed as a tomb for the pharaoh.
• Giza pyramid complex (noun phrase): The specific site on the Giza Plateau housing the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), the Pyramid of Khafre, the Pyramid of Menkaure, and the Great Sphinx.

Synonyms

• The Egyptian pyramids: A synonymous phrase.
• The Giza pyramids: A more specific term for the most famous group.

Notes

• The reference context specifies these were "begun by Cheops around 2700 BC as royal tombs." Cheops is the Greek name for the Pharaoh Khufu, builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza. The term "Pyramids of Egypt" encompasses more than just Khufu's pyramid, including those built by other pharaohs at sites like Saqqara and Dahshur.

Noun

1. a massive monument with a square base and four triangular sides; begun by Cheops around 2700 BC as royal tombs in ancient Egypt