I. ˈzī-ən noun
also Si·on ˈsī-ən
Etymology: Middle English Sion, from Old English, citadel in Palestine which was the nucleus of Jerusalem, from Late Latin, from Greek Seiōn, from Hebrew Ṣīyōn
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : the Jewish people : Israel
b. : the Jewish homeland that is symbolic of Judaism or of Jewish national aspiration
c. : the ideal nation or society envisaged by Judaism
2. : heaven
3. : utopia
II. ˈzī-ən geographical name
1. city NE Illinois N of Waukegan population 22,866
2. or Mount Zion or Sion ˈsī-ən, ˈzī- or Mount Sion hill E Jerusalem, Israel; originally the stronghold of Jerusalem conquered by David; occupied in ancient times by the Jewish Temple