Cy ‧ prus /ˈsaɪprəs/ BrE AmE
a large island in the east Mediterranean Sea. Population: 788,457 (2007). Capital: Nicosia. Cyprus has been divided into two parts since Turkey ↑ invade d (=entered the country using military force) the north in 1974. The Greek Cypriots live in the southern two thirds of the island, and the Turkish Cypriots live in the northern third. Since 1983 the area held by the Turks has called itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, but only Turkey officially recognizes it as a country. Cyprus joined the EU in 2004.
—Cypriot /ˈsɪpriət/ noun , adjective