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Definition of Malta
1. Noun. A republic on the island of Malta in the Mediterranean; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1964.
Generic synonyms: Country, Land, State
Terms within: Capital Of Malta, Valetta, Valletta
Member holonyms: Maltese
2. Noun. A strategically located island to the south of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea.
Generic synonyms: Island
Group relationships: Mediterranean, Mediterranean Sea
Definition of Malta
1. Proper noun. A European country in the Mediterranean Sea. Official name: Republic of Malta. ¹
2. Proper noun. The largest island of the Maltese Archipelago. ¹
3. Noun. A non-alcoholic carbonated malt beverage, popular in Latin America ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Medical Definition of Malta
1. An independent state consisting of three islands in the mediterranean sea, south of sicily. Its capital is valetta. The major island is malta, the two smaller islands are comino and gozo. It was a phoenician and carthaginian colony, captured by the romans in 218 b.c. It was overrun by saracens in 870, taken by the normans in 1090, and subsequently held by the french and later the british who allotted them a dominion government in 1921. It became a crown colony in 1933, achieving independence in 1964. The name possibly comes from a pre-indoeuropean root mel, high, referring to its rocks, but a more picturesque origin derives the name from the greek melitta or melissa, honey, with reference to its early fame for its honey production. (12 Dec 1998)