Sahara

[suh-har-uh, -hair-uh, -hahr-uh] /səˈhær ə, -ˈhɛər ə, -ˈhɑr ə/
noun
1.
a desert in N Africa, extending from the Atlantic to the Nile valley. About 3,500,000 sq. mi. (9,065,000 sq. km).
2.
any arid waste.
Related forms
Saharan, Saharian, adjective
trans-Sahara, adjective
trans-Saharan, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for Sahara

Sahara

/səˈhɑːrə/
noun
1.
a desert in N Africa, extending from the Atlantic to the Red Sea and from the Mediterranean to central Mali, Niger, Chad, and the Sudan: the largest desert in the world, occupying over a quarter of Africa; rises to over 3300 m (11 000 ft) in the central mountain system of the Ahaggar and Tibesti massifs; large reserves of iron ore, oil, and natural gas. Area: 9 100 000 sq km (3 500 000 sq miles). Average annual rainfall: less than 254 mm (10 in.). Highest recorded temperature: 58°C (136.4°F)
Word Origin and History for Sahara

1610s, from Arabic çahra "desert" (plural çahara), according to Klein, noun use of fem. of the adjective asharu "yellowish red." Related: Saharan.

Sahara in Culture

Sahara definition


Desert in northern Africa.

Note: At approximately 3.5 million square miles, it is the world's largest desert.