memphis
memphis Lexical Profile
• noun
American A major city in southwestern Tennessee, located on the Mississippi River, historically renowned for its pivotal role in the development of blues, soul, and rock and roll music.
"Many music enthusiasts travel to Memphis to visit Graceland and the historic recording studios on Beale Street."
An ancient city in Lower Egypt, located south of the Nile River delta, which served as the capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom.
"Archaeologists have uncovered numerous statues and temple ruins at the ancient site of Memphis."
A postmodern design and architecture movement of the 1980s (the Memphis Group), characterized by the use of vibrant colors, geometric shapes, and asymmetrical patterns.
"The interior designer selected a bold, colorful lamp inspired by the Memphis aesthetic to serve as the room's focal point."
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Greek 'Memphis' (Μέμφις), which was borrowed from the Ancient Egyptian 'Men-nefer', meaning 'enduring and beautiful'. The city in Tennessee was named after the ancient Egyptian city due to its comparable location on a major river.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.