Roman Empire

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɹəʊmən ˈɛmpaɪə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɹoʊmən ˈɛmpaɪɚ/

Proper noun

Roman Empire

1. (historical) The empire which succeeded the Roman Republic and existed between 27 B.C.E. and 476 C.E. in the west (and until 1453 C.E. in the east; see Byzantine Empire), encompassing territories stretching from Britain and Germany to Spain, North Africa and the Persian Gulf. [from 15th c.]

   Coordinate terms: Roman Kingdom; Roman Republic; Western Roman Empire; Byzantine Empire (Byzantium, Eastern Roman Empire)

   • Empire definition

     A political unit, typically having an extensive territory or comprising a number of territories or nations (especially one comprising one or more kingdoms) and ruled by a single supreme authority. (1 of 5 empire definitions)

   • Roman Republic definition

     The period of Ancient Rome where its government operated as a republic (approx. 509 BC – 27 BC). (1 of 3 Roman Republic definitions)

   • Byzantine Empire definition

     The predominantly Greek-speaking continuation of the Roman Empire during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages with its capital city being Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), originally known as Byzantium, which fell in 1453.

   • Encompass definition

     To form a circle around; to encircle. (1 of 4 encompass definitions)

   • Territories definition

     plural of territory

   • Stretch definition

     To lengthen by pulling. (1 of 13 stretch definitions)

   • Britain definition

     (1 of 8 Britain definitions)

   • Germany definition

     A nation or civilization occupying the country around the Rhine, Elbe, and upper Danube Rivers in Central Europe, taken as a whole under its various governments. (1 of 14 Germany definitions)

   • Spain definition

     (1 of 3 Spain definitions)

   • North Africa definition

     (1 of 3 North Africa definitions)

   • Persian Gulf definition

     The Persian Gulf, a gulf between Iran (“Persia”) and the Arabian Peninsula.

   • Western Roman Empire definition

     The western provinces of the Roman Empire when they were administered by a separate independent Imperial court, especially the period from 395 to 476.

   • Byzantium definition

     A dark shade of purple, close to Tyrian purple and palatinate purple

   • Eastern Roman Empire definition

     The eastern provinces of the Roman Empire when they were administered by a separate independent Imperial court, especially the period from 395 to 476.
2. (historical, now rare) The Holy Roman Empire. [from 16th c.]

   • Holy Roman Empire definition

     (1 of 2 Holy Roman Empire definitions)

Synonyms

• Rome

Translations