[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/mecca/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [M](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/m/) / mecca

# mecca

noun (Mecca; also a mecca, meccas)

«mecca» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Mecca (also spelled Makkah) is the holiest city of Islam, in Saudi Arabia; it is where the Prophet Muhammad was born and where Muslims go on the hajj. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mecca/#m1)
2. Muslims everywhere face towards Mecca when they pray. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mecca/#m2)
3. (a mecca, lower case) A place that many people with the same interest love to visit: «Paris is a mecca for artists.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mecca/#m3)

### In the lessons

In religion lessons Mecca is the centre of Islam, with the Kaaba in the Great Mosque. In everyday speech «a mecca for…» means a favourite place for a group. Phrases: «face Mecca», «pilgrimage to Mecca», «a mecca for».

### Examples

- Muslims face towards Mecca when they pray. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mecca/#x1)
- Millions travel to Mecca for the hajj. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mecca/#x2)
- The Kaaba stands in the middle of the Great Mosque in Mecca. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mecca/#x3)
- The Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mecca/#x4)
- That shop is a mecca for comic fans. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mecca/#x5)
- The beach town is a mecca for surfers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mecca/#x6)
- A few days later, Ali Cogia mounted the camel that he had laden with merchandise, joined the caravan, and arrived in due time at Mecca. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mecca/#x7)

### Note

Capital M for the city. Some Muslims prefer the name Makkah, and some dislike the casual use «a mecca for…», so use it with care. Pronounced MEK-a.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «mecca» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mecca/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«mecca» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/mecca.html) on Mova free.