[il-uh-noi, -noiz] 
| 1. | a state in the central United States: a part of the Midwest. 11,418,461; 56,400 sq. mi. (146,075 sq. km). Capital: Springfield. Abbreviation: IL (for use with zip code), Ill. |
| 2. | a river flowing SW from NE Illinois to the Mississippi River: connected by a canal with Lake Michigan. 273 mi. (440 km) long. |
[z] , which occurs chiefly among less educated speakers, is least common in Illinois itself, increasing in frequency as distance from the state increases.| Illinois River A river rising in northeast Illinois and flowing about 439 km (273 mi) generally southwest to the Mississippi River in west-central Illinois. |
əˈnɔɪ