Quito

Part of speech: noun, proper noun

Definitions

1. The capital city of Ecuador, recognized for its historic colonial center and high-altitude location ; a prominent urban area serving as a political, cultural, and economic hub in South America ; a notable site known for its proximity to equatorial landmarks and Andean mountain scenery
2. An Ecuadorian city famed for its preserved old town and mountainous surroundings ; a major administrative and cultural center in the Andean region ; a location near the equator with significant historical and geographical importance
3. A South American metropolis known for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic district ; an important center of government and commerce in Ecuador ; a city situated close to the Earth's equatorial line amidst the Andes mountains

Etymology: The city of Quito, now the capital of Ecuador, takes its name from the Quitu, a people who lived in the Andean highlands before the Inca and Spanish arrived. The name itself is thought to combine two words from the Tsafiki language: "quitso," meaning "center," and "to," meaning "the world." Read together, the name means roughly "center of the world," a claim that suits a settlement set high in the mountains with a deep sense of its own importance. English took the name directly from Spanish, where it appears as the city's established title. The word therefore carries the Spanish spelling and pronunciation, with the initial "Q" pronounced as a "k" sound, rather than any native English form.

Synonyms: capital of Ecuador, Ecuadorian city