Definition

Proper noun: * A port city in Brazil: Santa Maria de Belém is the name of a major port city located in northern Brazil, at the mouth of the Amazon River delta. It serves as the principal port and commercial hub for the vast Amazon River basin region.

Usage Notes

• This term functions exclusively as a proper noun, referring to a specific geographical location. It is the full, formal name of the city commonly known as Belém.
• When used in English texts, it is often presented in its shortened form, "Belém." The full name may be used for historical context, formal documentation, or to distinguish it from other places named Belém.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• The city is officially named Belém, which is the Portuguese word for Bethlehem. "Santa Maria de Belém" translates to "Saint Mary of Bethlehem."
• In historical contexts, the city's founding in 1616 is a key event in the Portuguese colonization of the Amazon region.

Variants and Related Words

• Belém (Proper noun): The common, shortened name for the city of Santa Maria de Belém.
• Metropolitan Region of Belém (Proper noun): The larger urban area centered on the city.

Synonyms

• Belém (for the city itself)
• Port of Belém (when emphasizing its function as a harbor)

Noun

1. port city in northern Brazil in the Amazon delta; main port and commercial center for the Amazon River basin