name
Common
Asia
AY-zhuh
Asia (name) means the world's largest and most populous continent, stretching from the Ural Mountains and the Middle East in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. Example: “Asia is home to more than half of the world's population.”
name
1
The world's largest and most populous continent, stretching from the Ural Mountains and the Middle East in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east.
"Asia is home to more than half of the world's population."
"They backpacked across Southeast Asia for six months."
2
A female given name, taken from the name of the continent.
"Her daughter Asia was born in the spring."
How to use Asia
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe name of the continent that includes countries such as China, India, Japan, and much of the Middle East.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Asias
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_____ is home to more than half of the world's population.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek Asia, a name of uncertain origin possibly linked to a Hittite word for northwest Anatolia.
Rhymes for Asia
See all rhymes for Asia →Frequently asked questions
What does “Asia” mean?
The word “Asia” means the world's largest and most populous continent, stretching from the Ural Mountains and the Middle East in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. In plain terms, the name of the continent that includes countries such as China, India, Japan, and much of the Middle East.
How do you pronounce “Asia”?
“Asia” is pronounced AY-zhuh (/ˈeɪ.ʒə/ in IPA).
How do you use “Asia” in a sentence?
Here is “Asia” used in a sentence: “Asia is home to more than half of the world's population.”
What part of speech is “Asia”?
“Asia” is a name.
Where does the word “Asia” come from?
The word “Asia” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek Asia, a name of uncertain origin possibly linked to a Hittite word for northwest Anatolia.
Is “Asia” a common word?
“Asia” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Asia” have?
“Asia” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the world's largest and most populous continent, stretching from the Ural Mountains and the Middle East in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east.
What separates Asia from Europe?
Asia and Europe sit on the same landmass, so the border is a convention rather than a sea. It is usually drawn along the Ural Mountains and Ural River, the Caspian Sea, and the Caucasus, running down to the Black Sea. Countries such as Russia and Turkey straddle both continents.
How many people live in Asia?
Asia is home to more than 4.7 billion people — roughly 60 percent of everyone on Earth — making it by far the most populous continent. It contains the world's two most populous countries, India and China, each with well over a billion residents.
What is the largest country in Asia?
Russia is the largest country by area, but it spans both Europe and Asia. China is the largest country lying entirely within Asia, followed by India. By population, India is now the biggest, having overtaken China as the world's most populous nation in 2023.
What are the main regions of Asia?
Geographers usually divide Asia into several regions: East Asia (such as China and Japan), South Asia (India and its neighbours), Southeast Asia (Indonesia and Thailand), Central Asia, and Western Asia, often called the Middle East. Together they span deserts, mountains, tropics, and Arctic tundra.
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