cleopatra: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Cleopatra was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, which was of Greek Macedonian origin. However, she was the first in her line to learn the Egyptian language and actively presented herself as a pharaoh and a goddess in the Egyptian tradition.

It is the popular name for each of three ancient Egyptian obelisks re-erected in London, New York City, and Paris in the 19th century. They are ancient, but their connection to Cleopatra herself is tenuous and based on later naming.

Yes, but carefully. Calling a contemporary woman 'a Cleopatra' implies she possesses a combination of commanding authority, magnetic allure, dramatic flair, and perhaps a sense of destined tragedy. It is a powerful and specific comparison.

According to classical accounts, she committed suicide by allowing an asp (an Egyptian cobra) to bite her, following the defeat of her lover Mark Antony by Octavian (Augustus). This dramatic end cemented her story as a timeless tragedy of love, power, and loss.

The famous queen of Egypt (69–30 BC), the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, renowned for her intelligence, political acumen, and relationships with Roman leaders Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.

Cleopatra is usually formal, literary, historical in register.

Cleopatra: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkliːəˈpætrə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkliːəˈpætrə/ (also commonly /ˌkliːəˈpɑːtrə/). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.