noun eritrea a small country in NE Africa, on the Red Sea: became an Italian colony in 1890; federated with Ethiopia (1952–93); an independence movement was engaged in war with the Ethiopian government from 1961 until independence was gained in 1993; consists of hot and arid coastal lowlands, rising to the foothills of the Ethiopian highlands. Languages: Tigrinya, Arabic, English, Afar, and others. Religions: Muslim and Christian. Currency: nakfa. Capital: Asmara. Pop: 6 233 682 (2013 est). Area: 117 400 sq km (45 300 sq miles) 0
noun eritrea country in E Africa, on the Red Sea: formerly part of Ethiopia, it became independent in 1993: 36,171 sq mi (93,683 sq km); pop. 3,525,000; cap. Asmara 0
