divan

UK: /dɪˈvæn/

US: /dɪˈvæn/

US: (di van′, -vän′ or, esp. for 1, dī′van)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

di•van¹ /dɪˈvæn/   n. [countable]

1. Furniture a couch, usually without arms or back, often usable as a bed.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

di•van¹  (di van′, -vän′ or, esp. for 1, dī′van), n. 

1. Furniture a sofa or couch, usually without arms or back, often usable as a bed.
2. Furniture a long, cushioned seat, usually without arms or back, placed against a wall, as in Oriental countries.
3. Government a council of state in Turkey and other countries of the Middle East.
4. Government any council, committee, or commission.
5. Government (in the Middle East)
   • a council chamber, judgment hall, audience chamber, or bureau of state.
   • a large building used for some official or public purpose, as a custom house.
6. a smoking room, as in connection with a tobacco shop.
7. Literature a collection of poems, esp. a collection in Arabic or Persian of poems by one poet.

• Persian dīwān, origin, originally dēvan booklet (whence account book, office, council, bench)
• Turkish
• 1580–90

di•van²  (di van′), adj. 

(esp. of chicken or turkey breast)
1. Food sliced and baked in a casserole with broccoli and hollandaise sauce.

• perh. a representation in English spelling, spelled of French divin divine of uncertain origin, originally

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

divan / dɪˈvæn/ noun

1. a backless sofa or couch, designed to be set against a wall
2. a bed resembling such a couch
3. (esp formerly) a room for smoking and drinking, as in a coffee shop
4. a Muslim law court, council chamber, or counting house
5. a Muslim council of state

Etymology: 16th Century: from Turkish dīvān, from Persian dīwān