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a continent S of Europe and between the Atlantic and Indian oceans. About 11,700,000 sq. mi. (30,303,000 sq. km).
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Contemporary Examples

Crumpton remembered one secret hero he had met during his time as a spy in Africa in the 1980s.
CIA’s Henry Crumpton on the Heroes You’ll Never Know Miranda Green November 14, 2012

They have been trafficked into sexual slavery, often from Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe.
Hollywood’s Sex-Slave Crusade Dana Goldstein November 10, 2009

Her foreign tours include the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and several years as a roving foreign correspondent worldwide.
The Hero Summit 2013 Speakers September 9, 2013

Last year, over 214,000 workers were posted in Africa to build highways, bridges, dams, and power plants.
‘Made in China’ Now Being Made in Africa Brendon Hong August 22, 2014

The biggest country in Africa today, Algeria, has given Gaddafi’s family safe haven in exile.
Which Middle East Dictator Is Going Down Next? Bruce Riedel October 19, 2011

Historical Examples

It is the best of flyers, as it can “breakfast on the Senegal (Africa), and dine on the Amazon.”
An Australian Bird Book John Albert Leach

Cakes of salt have been used as money in various parts of Africa and Asia.
Diggers in the Earth Eva March Tappan

By his zeal he gained many adherents for the Sabbatian delusion in Africa; but he also made enemies, and incurred dangers.
History of the Jews, Vol. V (of 6) Heinrich Graetz

It took the time of fourteen hunters in Africa for seven months.
The Root of Evil Thomas Dixon

In Africa and Asia we are witnessing the turbulent unfolding of new nations and continents.
Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006 Various

noun
the second largest of the continents, on the Mediterranean in the north, the Atlantic in the west, and the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean in the east. The Sahara desert divides the continent unequally into North Africa (an early centre of civilization, in close contact with Europe and W Asia, now inhabited chiefly by Arabs) and Africa south of the Sahara (relatively isolated from the rest of the world until the 19th century and inhabited chiefly by Negroid peoples). It was colonized mainly in the 18th and 19th centuries by Europeans and now comprises independent nations. The largest lake is Lake Victoria and the chief rivers are the Nile, Niger, Congo, and Zambezi. Pop: 887 964 000 (2005 est). Area: about 30 300 000 sq km (11 700 000 sq miles)

Latin Africa (terra) “African land, Libya, the Carthaginian territory,” fem. of Africus, from Afer “an African.” Originally only in reference to the region around modern Tunisia, it gradually was extended to the whole continent. Derivation from Arabic afar “dust, earth” is tempting, but the early date seems to argue against it. The Middle English word was Affrike.

The second-largest continent, after Asia; located south of Europe and bordered to the west by the Atlantic Ocean and to the east by the Indian Ocean.

Note: Africa has been the home of great civilizations, particularly in Egypt, along the Mediterranean Sea. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, European nations colonized much of the continent (see colonialism). In the twentieth century, the colonies became independent countries.

Note: Africa south of the Sahara is sometimes called sub-Saharan Africa.

Note: Sub-Saharan Africa has been hit especially hard by HIV/AIDS, drastically decreasing the life expectancy of much of the population.