Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - congo

 geographical name  1. (or Zaire) river more than 2700 miles (4344 kilometers) central Africa flowing N, W, & SW into the Atlantic — see Lualaba  2. (or Democratic Republic of the ~) (or 1971-97 Zaire) (or 1908-60 Belgian ~) (or 1885-1908 ~ Free State) country central Africa comprising most of ~ River basin E of lower ~ River capital Kinshasa area 905,356 square miles (2,344,872 square kilometers), population 43,775,000  3. (or Republic of the ~) (or formerly Middle ~) country W central Africa W of the lower ~ capital Brazzaville area 132,047 square miles (342,002 square kilometers), population 2,775,000 — see French Equatorial Africa  • ~lese adjective or noun