celebes: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Historical, Geographical
Quick answer
What does “celebes” mean?
An island in Indonesia, now officially called Sulawesi.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An island in Indonesia, now officially called Sulawesi.
The former colonial name for Sulawesi, still used in historical, geographical, and some biological contexts (e.g., Celebes crested macaque).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the historical name 'Celebes' and the modern 'Sulawesi'.
Connotations
Neutral historical/geographical term. 'Sulawesi' is preferred in contemporary contexts.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, limited to specific contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “celebes” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “celebes” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Celebes crested macaque is an endangered species.
- They studied the Celebes tectonic plate.
American English
- The Celebes crested macaque is an endangered species.
- They analyzed Celebes maritime boundaries.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May appear in historical trade references.
Academic
Used in history, geography, and biology (taxonomy) papers referring to older classifications or historical periods.
Everyday
Very rare. 'Sulawesi' is the common term.
Technical
Used in historical cartography, certain zoological names (e.g., Macaca nigra, the Celebes crested macaque), and older geological literature.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “celebes”
- Using 'Celebes' in contemporary contexts where 'Sulawesi' is appropriate.
- Misspelling as 'Celebes' (correct) vs. 'Celebes' (incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Since Indonesian independence, the official name is Sulawesi. 'Celebes' is a historical name.
In historical texts, old maps, and specific scientific names like the 'Celebes crested macaque'.
They refer to the same island. 'Celebes' is the former colonial (Portuguese/Dutch) name; 'Sulawesi' is the indigenous and now official Indonesian name.
In British English: /ˈsɛlɪbiːz/ (SELL-i-beez). In American English: /ˈsɛləˌbiːz/ (SELL-uh-beez).
An island in Indonesia, now officially called Sulawesi.
Celebes is usually formal, historical, geographical in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'Sell a bees' wax' – but the island is known for spices, not bees! This helps recall the old name 'Celebes' for the spice island now called Sulawesi.
Conceptual Metaphor
A RELIC OF THE PAST (the name represents a colonial era since superseded).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary contemporary name for the island historically known as Celebes?