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Glite Dictionary
Gulf of Siam

Gulf of Siam

6.7
A sea area between Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam now called the Gulf of Thailand
  • proper noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : Golfo de Siam
  • The Gulf of Siam is now more commonly known as the Gulf of Thailand.

Examples

  • Trade routes through the Gulf of Siam played a vital role in regional commerce.

  • Sailors once referred to the Gulf of Siam when mapping the coasts of Southeast Asia.

  • The Gulf of Siam is known for its beautiful beaches.

  • Many tourists visit the Gulf of Siam every year.

  • The Gulf of Siam was an important area for maritime trade in ancient times.

  • Historically, the Gulf of Siam served as a major route for explorers and merchants.

  • Artists often depict the stunning sunsets over the Gulf of Siam in their paintings.

Synonyms

Gulf of Thailand
vsGulf of Siam
3.4

A shallow part of the South China Sea beside Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam

is an older historical name for the same body of water

Surface Forms

Gulf of Siam main

Morphology

gulf + of + Siam

The meaning is compositionally transparent: 'gulf' (a stretch of sea) combined with 'of' + 'Siam' (historical name for Thailand) yields 'the gulf belonging to/near Siam/Thailand.' This geographic naming pattern is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can readily infer the referent.

Etymology

The place name Gulf of Siam comes from the old name Siam for the country now called 'Thailand', so it simply meant the sea beside Siam. Sailors and mapmakers used this name for many years, and today we usually call the same water the 'Gulf of Thailand'.