a republic in SW Asia, between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf: a monarchy until an Islamic revolution in 1979 headed by the Ayatollah Khomeini when the Shah was obliged to leave the country. Consists chiefly of a high central desert plateau almost completely surrounded by mountains, a semitropical fertile region along the Caspian coast, and a hot and dry area beside the Persian Gulf. Oil is the most important export. Official language: Persian (Iranian or Farsi). Official religion: (Shiite) Muslim. Currency: rial. Capital: Tehran. Pop: 81 162 788 (2017 est). Area: 1 647 050 sq km (635 932 sq miles)
Former name (until 1935): Persia
Official name: Islamic Republic of Iran
See also Persian Empire
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
I•ran
(i ran′, i rän′, ī ran′),USA pronunciation n.
Iran.,
- Place Namesa republic in SW Asia. 67,540,002;
ab. 635,000 sq. mi. (1,644,650 sq. km). Cap.: Teheran. Formerly (until 1935), Persia.
Iran.,
- Place NamesIranian.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'Iran' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Abadan
- Afghanistan
- Ahwaz
- Ararat
- Aras
- Armenia
- Asia
- Atrek
- Azerbaijan
- Azerbaijani
- Baha’i
- Balochistan
- Baluchistan
- Bandar Abbas
- Behistun
- Bushehr
- Bushire
- CENTO
- Dasht-i-Kavir
- Dasht-i-Lut
- Demavend
- Ecbatana
- Elburz Mountains
- Fars
- Farsi
- Gulf States
- Gulf War
- Hamadan
- Hamadān
- Hasanlu
- Helmand
- Hormuz
- Hussein
- Iran-Iraq War
- Iranian
- Iranian Plateau
- Iraq
- Isfahan
- Karkheh
- Karun
- Kerman
- Kermanshah
- Khamenei
- Khatami
- Khomeini
- Khuzistan
- Kurd
- Kurdistan
- Luristan
- Mannai