Word
carolina
Phoneticscar·oli·na
/ˌkɛɹəˈɫaɪnə/
Definitions
01U.S. states
n. one of two states in the southeastern United States: North Carolina or South Carolina.
n. a geographical region in the southeastern United States comprising the states of North Carolina and South Carolina.
“They are planning a road trip through Carolina to see the mountains.”
“The coastal regions of Carolina are frequently impacted by tropical storms during the late summer months.”
American English
Usage
Often used in the plural 'the Carolinas' to refer to both states together.
02a person's name
n. a female given name.
n. a female personal name, representing the Latinate form of Caroline.
“Carolina is the new manager of the sales department.”
“The biography of Carolina Maria de Jesus provides a harrowing account of life in a Brazilian favela.”
Synonyms
03UNC Chapel Hill
n. a common way to refer to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
n. a metonym for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, particularly in the context of collegiate athletics.
“He was accepted to Carolina for his undergraduate degree.”
“The rivalry between Carolina and Duke is one of the most storied traditions in college basketball.”
American English · Informal
Usage
Typically used without an article when referring to the institution.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Latin Carolus (“Charles”) + -ina (feminine diminutive suffix). The U.S. states are named for Charles I of England.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.