Mecca

/ˈmɛkə/

/ˈmɛkə/

Other forms: Meccas

The Saudi Arabian city that attracts millions of religious pilgrims every year is Mecca. Mecca is particularly famous for being the birthplace of Muhammad.

Mecca is so significant to Muslims that the word has come to be commonly used for any place that attracts a passionate interest for a particular group. Your dad's favorite record store is a mecca for jazz lovers, and the butterfly room at the botanical gardens is a mecca for budding lepidopterists. The actual city of Mecca is even more important — in fact, a pilgrimage to Mecca (called a Hajj) is considered a requirement for faithful Muslims.

Definitions of Mecca

1. noun

   joint capital (with Riyadh) of Saudi Arabia; located in western Saudi Arabia; as the birthplace of Muhammad it is the holiest city of Islam
   example of:

   Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia

   joint capital (with Mecca) of Saudi Arabia located in the central oasis; largest city in Saudi Arabia