Pronunciation: ' kä ŋ -( ˌ )g ō
Function: geographical name
1 or Zaire river more than 2700 mi (4344 km ) cen Africa flowing N, W, & SW into the Atlantic ― see LUALABA
2 or Democratic Republic of the Congo or 1971-97 Za · ire \ zä- ' ir \ or 1908-60 Belgian Congo or 1885-1908 Congo Free State country cen Africa comprising most of Congo River basin E of lower Congo River capital Kinshasa area 905,356 sq mi (2,344,872 sq km ), pop 43,775,000
3 or Republic of the Congo or formerly Middle Congo country W cen Africa W of the lower Congo capital Brazzaville area 132,047 sq mi (342,002 sq km ), pop 2,775,000 ― see FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA
– Con · go · lese \ ˌ kä ŋ -g ə - ' l ē z, - ' l ē s \ adjective or noun