Word
damascus
Phoneticsdam·as·cus, stress on the second syllable
/dəˈmæskəs/
Definitions
01the city
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the capital city of Syria and one of the oldest continuously lived-in cities in the world.
n. the capital city of the Syrian Arab Republic, historically significant as a major cultural and commercial hub in the Levant.
“Damascus is famous for its ancient markets and beautiful historic buildings.”
“Scholars often cite Damascus as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with evidence of settlement dating back several millennia.”
02Damascus steel
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Technology Technical
n. a type of strong steel with wavy patterns, originally used for making sword blades.
n. a type of steel characterized by distinctive patterns of banding and mottling reminiscent of flowing water, historically used for sword blades.
“The collector bought an antique knife made of beautiful Damascus steel.”
“Modern bladesmiths often attempt to replicate the legendary strength and aesthetic appeal of original Damascus steel through pattern-welding techniques.”
Synonyms
03a sudden change of mind
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Religion Literary
n. a moment when someone suddenly changes their mind or beliefs, often called a 'road to Damascus' moment.
n. an allusion to the biblical conversion of Paul, used to describe a sudden and complete change in a person's beliefs or perspective.
“After seeing the damage to the forest, he had a road to Damascus moment and became an environmentalist.”
“The CEO's sudden pivot toward ethical investment was described by colleagues as a road to Damascus conversion that surprised the entire board.”
Synonyms
Etymology
From Latin Dāmascus, from Ancient Greek Δαμασκός (Damaskós), from a Semitic form akin to Hebrew דַּמֶּשֶׂק and Samalian 𐤃𐤌𐤔𐤒 (dmšq). Doublet of Dimashq.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. road to Damascus
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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