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Glite Dictionary
Libyan Desert

Libyan Desert

5.1
A dry, sandy part of the Sahara Desert in Libya, Egypt, and Sudan
  • proper noun
  • /ˈlɪbiən ˈdɛzərt/
translation icon : Desierto Libio
  • Explorers have faced harsh conditions while traversing the Libyan Desert during their expeditions.

Examples

  • In December of 1935, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, on a mail flight between Paris and Saigon, crashed in the Libyan Desert west of the Nile.

    Academic text (1994)

  • The Libyan Desert is known for its extreme temperatures and vast sand dunes.

  • Many ancient fossils have been discovered in the Libyan Desert, revealing its historical significance.

Surface Forms

Libyan Desert main

Morphology

Libyan + desert

The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'Libyan' (related to Libya) + 'desert' (an arid region) yields a desert associated with Libya. This is a common geographic naming pattern present across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Libyan Desert is a literal place name: early mapmakers and travelers called the large dry area by the country 'Libya', so it became known as the Libyan Desert. That's why Libyan Desert today means 'the northeastern part of the Sahara Desert' covering parts of Libya, Egypt, and Sudan.