zaire

[zah-eer, zah-eer] /zɑˈɪər, ˈzɑ ɪər/

noun, plural zaire.

a paper money and monetary unit of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, equal to 100 makuta.

Zaire

[zah-eer, zah-eer] /zɑˈɪər, ˈzɑ ɪər/

noun

Republic of, a former name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

official name within the Democratic Republic of the Congo of the Congo River (the term Congo River is more widely used elsewhere).

Also, Zaïre.

British Dictionary definitions for zaire

/zɑːˈɪə/

noun

the former name (1971–97) of the Democratic Republic of Congo

(formerly) the Zaïrian name (1971–97) for the (River) Congo (sense 3)

Word Origin and History for zaire

African nation (1971-1997), from an early alternative name of the Congo River, from Kikongo nzai, dialectal form of nzadi "river."

zaire in Culture

Zaire [(zeye-eer)]

See Democratic Republic of Congo.