Aden

¹

[ahd-n, eyd-n]

noun

1. a seaport in and the economic capital of the Republic of Yemen, in the southern part: formerly the center of a British colony.

2. Also called State of Aden. Colony of Aden, a former British colony on the Gulf of Aden and a member of the former Federation of South Arabia. 75 sq. mi. (194 sq. km).

3. Protectorate of Aden, former name, until 1962, of the former Protectorate of South Arabia.

4. Gulf of Aden, an arm of the Arabian Sea between Arabia and the eastern tip of Africa.

aden-

²

1. variant of adeno- before a vowel.

   adenitis.

Aden

/ ˈeɪdən /

noun

1. the main port and commercial capital of Yemen, on the N coast of the Gulf of Aden , an arm of the Indian Ocean at the entrance to the Red Sea: capital of South Yemen until 1990: formerly an important port of call on shipping routes to the East. Pop: 584 000 (2005 est)

2. a former British colony and protectorate on the S coast of the Arabian Peninsula: became part of South Yemen in 1967, now part of Yemen. Area: 195 sq km (75 sq miles)

Aden

1. Capital and chief port of Yemen, located on the Gulf of Aden, near the southwest corner of the Arabian Peninsula and the southern entrance of the Red Sea.

Its strategic location and excellent harbor have made Aden an important trading center of southern Arabia since ancient times, as well as a coveted conquest.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Aden¹

First recorded in 1640–60; from Arabic ʿAdin, ʿAdan, perhaps ultimately from Akkadian edin(n)u “plain,” from Sumerian eden “plain, steppe”; Eden ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Since November 2023, the Houthis have targeted around 70 merchant vessels with missiles, drones and small boat attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

From BBC

The Chinese government responded on Wednesday, with spokesperson Mao Ning telling a press conference that its navy had been carrying out "escort operations" in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia.

From BBC

The state-run news agency reported that a fire broke out after the helicopter crashed at the Aden Adde International Airport, but it had been quickly contained by the emergency services.

From BBC

In the words of the governor of Aden himself:

From BBC

The port is the second-largest in the Red Sea after Aden, and is the entry point for about 80% of Yemen's food imports.

From BBC

When To Use

What does aden- mean?

Aden- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “gland.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy.Aden- comes from the Greek adḗn, meaning "gland." This Greek root is ultimately the source of adenoids, the enlarged masses of lymphoid tissue in the upper pharynx, often obstructing breathing through the nasal passages.Aden- is a variant of adeno-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use adeno-  article.