fertile crescent
nounUK /ˈfɜːtaɪl ˈkrɛsənt/
US /ˈfɜːrtəl ˈkrɛsənt/
A curved area of land in the Middle East where the first farms and towns began.
Long ago, people settled in the Fertile Crescent because the soil was good for growing food.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A historical region often linked to the beginnings of farming and writing.
Historians study the Fertile Crescent to learn how early cities formed.
3. A crescent-shaped zone of rich soil stretching from the Persian Gulf to the eastern Mediterranean.
The Fertile Crescent curves through modern Iraq, Syria, and nearby lands.
4. A symbol of early human progress in growing crops and building settlements.
The Fertile Crescent is a key place in the story of human civilization.