Tombouctou

geographical name

Tom·​bouc·​tou tōⁿ-bük-ˈtü How to pronounce Tombouctou (audio)
variants or traditionally Timbuktu
ˌtim-ˌbək-ˈtü How to pronounce Tombouctou (audio)
tim-ˈbək-(ˌ)tü
town in central Mali population 55,000

Note: Tombouctou was once an important trade center on the Saharan camel caravan routes.

Dictionary Entries Near Tombouctou

Cite this Entry

“Tombouctou.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Tombouctou. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Tombouctou

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!