venezuela

noun

1. a republic in N South America. 352,143 sq. mi. (912,050 sq. km). Capital: Caracas.
2. Gulf of. Also called Gulf of Maracaibo. a gulf of the Caribbean Sea between NW Venezuela and N Columbia Colombia, connecting to with Lake Maracaibo. 75 miles (120 km) long and up to 150 miles (240 km) wide.

noun

1. a republic in South America, on the Caribbean: colonized by the Spanish in the 16th century; independence from Spain declared in 1811 and won in 1819 after a war led by Simón Bolívar. It contains Lake Maracaibo and the northernmost chains of the Andes in the northwest, the Orinoco basin in the central part, and the Guiana Highlands in the south. Exports: petroleum, iron ore, and coffee. Official language: Spanish. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: bolívar. Capital: Caracas. Pop: 28 459 085 (2013 est). Area: 912 050 sq km (352 142 sq miles)Official name: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
2. Gulf of Venezuela an inlet of the Caribbean in NW Venezuela: continues south as Lake Maracaibo

Spanish, diminutive of Venecia “Venice” (see Venice). Supposedly the name was given by Spanish sailors in 1499 when they saw a native village built on piles on Lake Maracaibo.

Republic in northern South America, bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Guyana to the east, Brazil to the south, and Colombia to the southwest and west. Its capital and largest city is Caracas.