Definition

Proper noun: * A long arm of the Indian Ocean: A major body of seawater located between the northeastern coast of Africa (Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti) and the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia, Yemen). It is connected to the Mediterranean Sea in the north via the Suez Canal.

Examples of Usage

• Proper noun:
  • The ancient Egyptians traded extensively across the Red Sea.
  • Coral reefs in the Red Sea are famous for their biodiversity.
  • The Suez Canal provides a crucial shipping link between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Geopolitical Context: The term is often used in historical, geographical, and economic contexts due to the region's significance for trade, migration, and conflict.
  • The opening of the Suez Canal transformed the Red Sea into one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

Variants and Related Words

• Red Sea Rift (n): The tectonic plate boundary that runs along the center of the Red Sea, causing it to widen over geological time.
• Red Sea coast (n): The land bordering the Red Sea (e.g., the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia).

Synonyms

• There are no direct synonyms for this proper noun referring to the specific geographical feature. General descriptive phrases include:
  • A body of water between Africa and Arabia.
  • The northwestern arm of the Indian Ocean.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Parting of the Red Sea": A biblical reference (Book of Exodus) describing a miracle where the waters of the Red Sea are said to have divided, allowing the Israelites to escape from Egypt. It is commonly used metaphorically to describe creating a path through a great difficulty or obstacle.
  • The new legislation parted the Red Sea of bureaucratic hurdles for small businesses.

Noun

1. a long arm of the Indian Ocean between northeast Africa and Arabia; linked to the Mediterranean at the north end by the Suez Canal