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Glite Dictionary
Rock of Gibraltar

Rock of Gibraltar

5.9
A large rock at Spain's south tip that belongs to Britain and controls access to the Mediterranean
  • proper noun
translation icon : Peñón de Gibraltar
  • The British navy maintained a strong presence near the Rock of Gibraltar for centuries.

Examples

  • The Rock of Gibraltar is a famous landmark.

  • Tourists often visit the Rock of Gibraltar to see its famous Barbary macaques.

  • Control of the Rock of Gibraltar has long been a point of contention between Britain and Spain.

  • Many tourists visit the Rock of Gibraltar every year.

  • From the top of the Rock of Gibraltar, I could see the entire harbor below and the vast expanse of the Mediterranean Sea.

  • Tourists flock to the Rock of Gibraltar every year to witness its stunning views and historical significance.

  • The Rock of Gibraltar is known for its strategic military importance, controlling access to the Mediterranean.

Synonyms

Gibraltar
vsRock of Gibraltar
14 5.2

A small British territory on a rock at Spain's south tip that guards the entrance to the Mediterranean

is the physical limestone promontory rather than the political territory
Calpe
vsRock of Gibraltar
  • Archaic
9.9

An ancient name for Gibraltar, the rocky point at Spain's southern tip once called a Pillar of Hercules

is the modern geographic and political designation rather than the old historic name

Surface Forms

Rock of Gibraltar main

Morphology

rock + of + Gibraltar

This is a fully compositional toponym: 'rock' + 'of' + 'Gibraltar' literally denotes a rock located at Gibraltar, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can infer it is a specific rock/landmark there. The place-of construction is cross-linguistically common, although learners might not infer the geopolitical or strategic nuance without extra background knowledge.

Etymology

Rock of Gibraltar is a very large, hard rock that stands at the entrance to the Mediterranean and has been used as a strong fortress for centuries. That's why people use the name as a picture of something very 'strong' or 'reliable' — a kind of steady defence you can depend on.