asia

asia — noun

1. the world's largest continent, lying east of Europe and including countries such

1.nounA2
Definition

the world's largest continent, lying east of Europe and including countries such as China, Japan, India, and Taiwan.

Example

Leila wants to travel across Asia after she finishes university next year.

preposition: across Asia

Rice is the main food for many people who live in Asia.

preposition: in Asia

Common collocations
  • across Asia
  • in Asia
  • East Asia
  • Southeast Asia
  • Central Asia
  • South Asia

Usage Note

Always written with a capital A and used without 'the' (say 'in Asia', not 'in the Asia'). Common regional subdivisions include East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia.

Common Mistakes

I have lived in the Asia for two years.
I have lived in Asia for two years.
continent names take no article.
My friend is from asia.
My friend is from Asia.
proper nouns are always capitalised.

Word family

  • Asian
    adjectiveA2
  • Asian
    nounA2
  • Eurasia
    nounC1
  • Eurasian
    adjectiveC1

Common collocations

Nouns

  • East Asia
  • South Asia
  • Southeast Asia
  • Central Asia
  • Asia Pacific

Phrases

  • countries in Asia
  • people of Asia
  • travel around Asia

Prepositions

  • in Asia
  • across Asia
  • from Asia
  • to Asia
  • throughout Asia

Etymology

Akkadian/PhoenicianAncient GreekLatinEnglish

The name comes from the ancient Greek word 'Asia', which the Greeks first used for the lands lying east of the Aegean Sea, especially the western part of modern-day Turkey. The Greeks may have borrowed the word from an even older Phoenician or Akkadian term meaning 'sunrise' or 'east'. Over time, as Europeans learned more about the world, the name was applied to the whole continent stretching all the way to the Pacific Ocean.