Variant: or Is · mid
Pronunciation: iz- ' mit
or ancient As · ta · cus \ ' as-t ə -k ə s \ or Nic · o · me · dia \ ˌ ni-k ə - ' m ē -d ē - ə \
Function: geographical name
city & port NW Turkey in Asia on Gulf of Izmit (E arm of Sea of Marmara) pop 256,882