1 the capital and chief port of Libya, in the northwest on the Mediterranean: founded by Phoenicians in about the 7th century b.c.; the only city that has survived of the three (Oea, Leptis Magna, and Sabratha) that formed the African Tripolis (``three cities''); fishing and manufacturing centre. Pop.: 591062 (1988 est.), (Ancient name)
Oea (Arabic name)
Tarabulus el Gharb
2 a port in N Lebanon, on the Mediterranean: the second largest town in Lebanon; taken by the Crusaders in 1109 after a siege of five years; oil-refining and manufacturing centre. Pop.: 240000 (1991 est.), (Ancient name)
Tripolis (Arabic name)
Tarabulus esh Sham