ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cleopatra

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌkɫiəˈpætɹə// cleopa·tra Archaic

n. the last queen of ancient Egypt, known for her intelligence and her relationships with Roman leaders. People often use her name to describe a woman who is very powerful, beautiful, or charming.

n. the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, historically noted for her political alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. The lowercase form sometimes describes a woman perceived as possessing great beauty, power, or seductive influence.


SIMPLE

Cleopatra was a very famous queen in history.

CONTEXTUAL

The actress spent months researching the life of Cleopatra to prepare for her role in the historical drama.

COMPLEX

While popular culture often focuses on her romantic life, historians emphasize that Cleopatra was a highly educated diplomat who spoke multiple languages and managed a complex economy during a period of Roman expansion.

Origin

From Middle English Cleopatra, from Latin Cleopatra, from Ancient Greek Κλεοπάτρα (Kleopátra), meaning "glory of her father", from κλέος (kléos, “glory”) + πατήρ (patḗr, “father”).

Usage

Usually a proper noun referring to the historical figure; when used as a common noun, it is countable.

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