Libya (lib′ē ə, lib′yə)

1. ancient Greek & Roman name of N Africa, west of Egypt
2. country in N Africa, on the Mediterranean: under Turkish domination since 16th cent.; occupied by Italy (1911-43); placed under British and French military rule, it became an independent kingdom (1951) and a republic (1969): 679,358 sq mi (1,759,530 sq km); pop. 3,637,000; cap. Tripoli