From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary EnglishVeniceVen‧ice /ˈvenɪs/ a city in northeast Italy that is built on a system of canals (=artificial rivers) and famous for its many beautiful buildings and works of art. In former times, Venice was a powerful independent state and an important trading nation. It is now one of the most popular places in the world for tourists, who can travel around the city in special boats called ‘gondolas’, and it is thought of as a very romantic city. → see also Death in Venice —Venetian /vəˈniːʃən/ noun, adjective