n.
Pronunciation: ' iz-r ē (- ə )l, -( ˌ )r ā (- ə )l also ' is- or ' iz-r ə l
Function: geographical name
1 kingdom in ancient Palestine comprising the lands occupied by the Hebrew people; established ab 1025 B.C. ; divided ab 933 B.C. into a S kingdom (Judah) & a N kingdom (Israel)
2 or Northern Kingdom or Ephra · im \ ' ē -fr ē - ə m \ the N portion of the Hebrew kingdom after the division capital Samaria
3 country SW Asia bordering on the Mediterranean; a republic established 1948 capital Jerusalem area 7993 sq mi (20,782 sq km ), pop 4,037,620 ― see PALESTINE