mediterranean sea

Meaning

Noun

• A mostly enclosed sea that has limited exchange of deep water with outer oceans, and where the water circulation is dominated by salinity and temperature differences rather than winds.

Origin

• . Mediterrāneus is derived from medius + terra, modelled after Ancient Greek μεσόγαιος. The English word is cognate with Middle French méditerranéen (modern French méditerranéen), Italian mediterraneo, Spanish mediterráneo.