English Reference

Word

persian

Phoneticsper·sian

/ˈpɝʒən/

Definitions

01relating to Persia

B1

adj. relating to the history, people, or culture of the region formerly known as Persia.

adj. pertaining to the historical region of Persia, its inhabitants, or its cultural output.

“The museum has a beautiful collection of ancient Persian carpets.”

“The exhibition focused on the intricate craftsmanship of Persian miniatures produced during the Safavid dynasty.”

Synonyms

02the language

B1

n. the language spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan.

n. the Western Iranian language of the Indo-European family, also known as Farsi, Dari, or Tajik depending on the region.

“She is learning to read Persian so she can enjoy classical poetry.”

“Modern Persian has evolved significantly since the classical period, yet the literary works of Rumi remain accessible to contemporary speakers.”

Synonyms

Farsi

03a person

B1

n. a person from the historical region of Persia or a member of the Persian ethnic group.

n. a member of the ethnic group indigenous to the Iranian plateau; historically, a subject of the Persian Empire.

“The ancient Persians built a massive empire that stretched across many lands.”

“Many Persians living abroad maintain strong cultural ties to their ancestral traditions, particularly during the New Year celebrations.”

Synonyms

04a cat breed

B2

n. a popular breed of cat with long, thick hair and a flat face.

n. a long-haired breed of domestic cat characterised by its round face and shortened muzzle.

“The white Persian sat quietly on the sofa, grooming its long fur.”

“While Persians are prized for their elegant appearance, the breed often requires daily grooming to prevent their dense coats from matting.”

05architectural figure

C2 · Architecture

n. a statue of a man used like a pillar to hold up a roof or ceiling.

n. a male figure used as a supporting column to hold up an entablature, similar to a caryatid.

“The old building featured a row of stone Persians supporting the balcony.”

“The architect opted for classical Persians instead of standard columns to give the facade a more dramatic, sculptural quality.”

Technical

Synonyms

atlastelamon

Etymology

From Middle English Persien, from Middle French persien, from Italian persiano, from Medieval Latin Persiānus, from Latin Persia, from Ancient Greek Περσίς (Persís), from Old Persian 𐎱𐎠𐎼𐎿 (p-a-r-s /⁠Pārsa⁠/, “Persia”) (compare Early Classical Persian پارس (pārs) or modern Iranian Persian فارس (fârs), where the shift p > f. Equivalent to Persia + -ian.

From Persius + -ian.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Architecture

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference