Salem

[ sey-luhm ]

noun
  1. a seaport in northeastern Massachusetts: founded 1626; site of witch hunt 1692–93; home of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

  2. a city in and the capital of Oregon, in the northwestern part, on the Willamette River.

  1. a town in southeastern New Hampshire.

  2. a town in southwestern Virginia, near Roanoke.

  3. a city in eastern Ohio.

  4. a city in central Tamil Nadu, in southern India.

  5. an ancient city of Canaan, later identified with Jerusalem. Genesis 14:18; Psalms 76:2.

Origin of Salem

1
From Late Latin Salem, from Greek Salḗm, from Hebrew Shālēm, a name of uncertain origin and meaning, but traditionally interpreted as a synonym of Jerusalem and associated in meaning with shālōm “peace”; see also Jerusalem

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for Salem

Salem

/ (ˈseɪləm) /


noun
  1. a city in S India, in Tamil Nadu: textile industries. Pop: 693 236 (2001)

  2. a city in NE Massachusetts, on the Atlantic: scene of the execution of 19 people after the witch hunts of 1692. Pop: 42 067 (2003 est)

  1. a city in the NW USA, the state capital of Oregon: food-processing. Pop: 142 914 (2003 est)

  2. an Old Testament name for Jerusalem (Genesis 14:18; Psalms 76:2): See Jerusalem

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012