Syria

geographical name

Syr·​ia ˈsir-ē-ə 

1

ancient region of southwestern Asia bordering on the Mediterranean Sea and covering modern Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan

2

former French mandate (1920–44) comprising the Le*vant States \ lə-​ˈvant \ (Syria, Lebanon, Latakia, and Jebel ed Druz); administrative capital Beirut, legislative capital Damascus

3

country in southwestern Asia bordering on the Mediterranean Sea; capital Damascus area 71,498 square miles (185,180 square kilometers), population 19,454,000

Note: Syria was a republic from 1944 to 1958 and became one again in 1961. From 1958 to 1961, it was a province of the United Arab Republic.

Syrian

ˈsir-ē-ən 

adjective or noun