syracuse

syracuse — geographical name

1. a city located in the central part of New York State, United States, near Oneida

1.geographical nameB1
Definition

a city located in the central part of New York State, United States, near Oneida Lake and the Finger Lakes region, known for heavy winter snowfall and as the home of Syracuse University

Example

Lakan moved to Syracuse to study environmental science at the university.

collocation: moved to [city] — common relocation pattern

The winter in Syracuse brings heavy snow, but the city is well prepared for it.

Common collocations
  • live in Syracuse
  • move to Syracuse
  • fly to Syracuse
  • a suburb of Syracuse
  • downtown Syracuse
  • Syracuse University

Grammar Patterns

in [place]

live in [place]

travel to [place]

the city of [place]

Usage Note

This city was named after the ancient Sicilian Syracuse because both areas had salt marshes. American English pronunciation is usually /ˈsɪr.ə.kjuːs/ (SEER-uh-kyoos). Common collocations include: in Syracuse, to Syracuse, from Syracuse, and the city of Syracuse.

Common Mistakes

She visited Syracuse university.
She visited Syracuse University.
University is always capitalized as part of the proper name.
He lives at Syracuse.
He lives in Syracuse.
Use 'in' for cities, not 'at'.

2. a historic port city on the southeastern coast of Sicily, Italy, that was founde

2.geographical nameB2
Definition

a historic port city on the southeastern coast of Sicily, Italy, that was founded by Greek colonists in ancient times and contains important Greek and Roman archaeological sites

Example

Walid spent a week in Syracuse exploring the ancient Greek ruins and the old town.

collocation: spent [duration] in [city] — expressing time

Zola took a ferry from Malta to the port of Syracuse on the Ionian Sea.

Common collocations
  • in Syracuse
  • the port of Syracuse
  • ancient Syracuse
  • the city of Syracuse
  • visit Syracuse
  • Syracuse in Sicily

Grammar Patterns

in [place]

travel to [place]

the city of [place]

from [place]

Usage Note

The Italian name for this city is Siracusa, and English speakers may encounter either form. The city is one of the most important ancient Greek settlements in the Mediterranean, and the mathematician Archimedes was born here. The New York city was named after this Sicilian city.

Common Mistakes

The Greek settlers build Syracuse in 734 BC.
The Greek settlers founded Syracuse in 734 BCE.
Use 'founded' (not 'built') when referring to the establishment of a city.

Synonym discussion

Sense: geographical name/1

Both cities named Syracuse are significant in their regions, but they differ greatly in history and character. The New York Syracuse is a modern American city named after the ancient Sicilian one; it is commonly referred to simply as Syracuse, with the state name added for clarity when needed. The Sicilian city is often called by its Italian name, Siracusa, especially in travel and historical writing. A learner will most often encounter Syracuse, NY in American news, weather reports (famous for lake-effect snow), and university contexts. By contrast, Siracusa appears in European travel guides, art history discussions, and classical studies. When speaking, specifying 'Syracuse, New York' or 'Syracuse, Sicily' avoids confusion.

Syracuse (NY)Syracuse (Italy)Siracusa

Common collocations

Nouns

  • the city of
  • the port of
  • the streets of
  • the area around

Phrases

  • live in Syracuse
  • move to Syracuse
  • travel to Syracuse
  • fly into Syracuse
  • the city of Syracuse

Prepositions

Etymology

Sicel (Indigenous)Ancient GreekLatinEnglish

The name Syracuse comes from the Latin Syrācūsae, borrowed from the Ancient Greek Συράκουσαι (Surákousai). The Greek settlement in Sicily was named after a nearby marsh called Syrako, which in the local Sicel language meant 'salt water' or 'salty.' The New York city was named in 1820 by John Wilkinson, a settler who chose the name because the area's salt marshes reminded him of the ancient Sicilian city's geography and salt trade.