[gam-bee-uh] 
| 1. | a river in W Africa, flowing W to the Atlantic. 500 mi. (800 km) long. |
| 2. | The, a republic extending inland along both sides of this river: formerly a British crown colony and protectorate; gained independence 1965; member of the Commonwealth of Nations. 1,248,085; 4003 sq. mi. (10,368 sq. km). Capital: Banjul. |
Gam·bi·a or The Gam·bi·a (gām'bē-ə)  (click for larger image in new window) A country of western Africa lying along the Gambia River and surrounded, except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean, by Senegal. Once a part of the Mali Empire, it became a British crown colony in 1843 and a British protectorate in 1894. Gambia achieved independence in 1965. From 1982 to 1989 it formed with Senegal the Confederation of Senegambia. Banjul is the capital. Population: 1,690,000. Gam'bi·an adj. & n. |
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