ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bethlehem

n. uncountable
A2 Elementary US //ˈbɛθɫɪˌhɛm// beth·le·hem Archaic

n. the city in the West Bank where Jesus was born. It is a famous place for Christians and a major tourist destination.

n. the ancient city in the West Bank, traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth.


SIMPLE

Many Christians visit Bethlehem every year.

CONTEXTUAL

The tour guide led the group through the narrow streets of Bethlehem to see the Church of the Nativity.

COMPLEX

As the traditional birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem holds profound spiritual significance for Christians worldwide and remains a focal point of pilgrimage and political tension.

Origin

Inherited from Middle English Bethleem, from Old French Bethleem and Old English Bethleem, from Latin Bēthlehēmum, from Ancient Greek Βηθλεέμ (Bēthleém), from Hebrew בֵּית לֶחֶם (bēṯ lɛ́ḥɛm, literally “house of bread”). Doublet of bedlam and Belém.

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