mediterranean sea

== English == === Etymology === The word mediterranean is from Latin mediterrāneus (“inland, remote from the coast”) + English -an (suffix forming adjectives with the sense ‘of or pertaining to’). Mediterrāneus is derived from medius (“middle”) + terra (“dry land, ground”), modelled after Ancient Greek μεσόγαιος (mesógaios, “located in the midst of land”). The English word is cognate with Middle French méditerranéen (modern French méditerranéen), Italian mediterraneo, Spanish mediterráneo. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌmɛ.dɪ.təˈɹeɪ.nɪ.ən ˈsiː/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˌmɛ.də.təˈɹeɪ.ni.ən ˈsi/, /ˌmɛ.də.təˈɹeɪ.njən ˈsi/ Hyphenation: me‧di‧ter‧ra‧nean sea === Noun === mediterranean sea (plural mediterranean seas) (oceanography) A mostly enclosed sea that has limited exchange of deep water with outer oceans, and where the water circulation is dominated by salinity and temperature differences rather than winds. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === mediterranean sea (oceanography) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia