Uruguay

[ yoor-uh-gwey, -gwahy; Spanish oo-roo-gwahy ]

noun
  1. a republic in southeastern South America. 72,172 sq. mi. (186,925 sq. km). Capital: Montevideo.

  2. a river in southeastern South America, flowing from southern Brazil along the boundary of eastern Argentina into the Río de la Plata. 981 miles (1,580 km) long.

Other words from Uruguay

  • an·ti-U·ru·guay·an, adjective
  • U·ru·guay·an [yoor-uh-gwey-uhn, -gwahy-uhn], /ˌyʊər əˈgweɪ ən, -ˈgwaɪ ən/, adjective, noun
  • pro-U·ru·guay·an, adjective, noun

Words Nearby Uruguay

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

How to use Uruguay in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for Uruguay

Uruguay

/ (ˈjʊərəˌɡwaɪ) /


noun
  1. a republic in South America, on the Atlantic: Spanish colonization began in 1624, followed by Portuguese settlement in 1680; revolted against Spanish rule in 1820 but was annexed by the Portuguese to Brazil; gained independence in 1825. It consists mainly of rolling grassy plains, low hills, and plateaus. Official language: Spanish. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: peso. Capital: Montevideo. Pop: 3 324 460 (2013 est). Area: 176 215 sq km (68 037 sq miles)

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

Cultural definitions for Uruguay

Uruguay

[ (yoor-uh-gweye, yoor-uh-gway, oor-uh-gweye) ]


Republic on the east coast of South America, tucked between Brazil to the north and east and Argentina to the west. The capital and largest city is Montevideo.

Notes for Uruguay

Uruguay was under a repressive and violent military government from 1973 to 1985.

Notes for Uruguay

It is a major producer of beef, leather, and wool.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.