Thermopylae
pronunciation
How to pronounce Thermopylae in British English:
UK [θə'mɒpəli:]
How to pronounce Thermopylae in American English:
US [θə'mɒpəli]
-
- Noun:
- a famous battle in 480 BC; a Greek army under Leonidas was annihilated by the Persians who were trying to conquer Greece
Word Origin
- Thermopylae
- narrow land passage along the Malian Gulf in ancient Greece, from Greek thermos "hot" (see thermal) + pylai, plural of pyle "gate; mountain pass, entrance into a region" (see pylon). In reference to nearby hot sulfur springs. Often simply hai pylai "the gates." Figurative of heroic resistance against overwhelming numbers since the battle fought there between the Greeks and Persians in 480 B.C.E.
Example
- 1. The only other ship to match her was the thermopylae .
- 2. But by now the thermopylae was over five hundred miles ahead .
- 3. The first of the two ships to reach java after the race had begun was the thermopylae , but on the indian ocean , the cutty sark took lead .
- 4. After crossing the equator , the captain called in at a port to have a new rudder fitted , but by now the thermopylae was over 500 miles ahead .
- 5. After crossing the equator , the captain called in at a port to have a new rudder fitted , but by now the thermopylae was over five hundred miles ahead .