iberian
iberian — adjective
- iberianpositive
- more iberiancomparative
- most iberiansuperlative
1. connected with the area of southwest Europe that holds Spain, Portugal, Andorra,
connected with the area of southwest Europe that holds Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and Gibraltar, or with anything that comes from there.
Rodrigo wrote a thesis on the dry summers across the Iberian region.
Iberian + noun, describing the geographic area
The chef served grilled fish with a sauce common in Iberian cooking.
Dahlia noticed that many Iberian rivers run low by late August.
Each summer Amani and her cousins swim at the warm Iberian beaches.
Vinícius studied how Iberian trade routes once linked the two large ports.
attributive use before a plural noun
- Iberian coast
- Iberian climate
- Iberian region
Grammar Patterns
Iberian + noun
Usage Note
Almost always used before a noun (Iberian coast, Iberian climate). Rarely used after 'be'. Distinguish from sense 2, which points to the people or their languages rather than the land.
2. connected with the people who lived on, or now live on, this part of southwest E
connected with the people who lived on, or now live on, this part of southwest Europe, or with the languages they spoke.
Élise gave a talk about the old Iberian tribes who farmed near the river.
Iberian + noun, referring to ancient people
The museum displays tools made by Iberian craftsmen many centuries ago.
Shirin still argues with her teacher about how the lost Iberian language sounded.
describing a language group
Vikram compared Iberian customs with those of nearby ancient groups.
Kofi's lecture traced Iberian art from simple stone carvings to painted pots.
- Iberian tribes
- Iberian language
- Iberian customs
Grammar Patterns
Iberian + noun
Usage Note
Subject of this sense is usually a person, group, or language, not the land itself. Common in history and archaeology writing rather than everyday speech.
iberian — noun
1. one of the people who lived long ago on the part of southwest Europe that is now
one of the people who lived long ago on the part of southwest Europe that is now Spain and Portugal.
The ancient Iberians built small forts on the hills above the valley.
the Iberians, ancient people group
Mayumi read that early Iberians traded metal with sailors from far away.
Each Iberian buried in that field was laid to rest with simple clay pots.
singular countable use
Professor Eitan believes the Iberians grew grain on the flat land near the coast.
- the ancient Iberians
- early Iberians
Grammar Patterns
the Iberians
Usage Note
Mostly used in the plural with 'the' (the Iberians) to name the ancient group as a whole. Distinguish from sense 2, which means a modern person from the same area.
2. a person living today who was born in, or makes their home in, Spain, the Basque
a person living today who was born in, or makes their home in, Spain, the Basque country, or Portugal.
Christopher married an Iberian he met while studying in Lisbon.
an Iberian, a modern person
The football club signed two Iberians from clubs across the border.
plural countable use
As a proud Iberian, Rodrigo always cooks rice the way his grandmother did.
Every spring Amani joins other Iberians picking fruit on the large northern farms.
- an Iberian
- two Iberians
Grammar Patterns
an Iberian
Usage Note
Refers to a present-day native of the region. Distinguish from sense 1 (an ancient inhabitant) and from the more usual everyday choice of 'Spaniard' or 'Portuguese'.
3. the old tongue, or set of tongues, that the early people of this region used bef
the old tongue, or set of tongues, that the early people of this region used before Latin spread there.
Élise found that few records of Iberian survive, so its grammar stays a puzzle.
Iberian as a named language
Lan spent years trying to read the short notes written in Iberian.
Vikram showed that some words in Iberian share roots with a neighbouring tongue.
uncountable, no article
Professor Kofi warned the class that no one can fully speak Iberian anymore.
- written in Iberian
- the Iberian language
Grammar Patterns
Iberian (the language)
Usage Note
Used without an article as the name of a language, like English or Latin. The rarest sense; appears mainly in language history. Distinguish from senses 1 and 2, which name people.
Word family
- IberianounC1
Common collocations
Nouns
- Iberian Peninsula
- Iberian coast
- Iberian tribes
Phrases
- the ancient Iberians
- written in Iberian
Etymology
The word comes from 'Iberia', the name the ancient Greeks and Romans gave to the southwest corner of Europe. The land was named after the Ebro River, called 'Iberus' in Latin, which the early people lived beside. English added the ending '-ian' to turn the place name into a word for 'belonging to that place or its people'.