a region of N central Italy, bordering on the Alps: dominated by prosperous lordships and city-states during the Middle Ages; later ruled by Spain and then by Austria before becoming part of Italy in 1859; intensively cultivated and in parts highly industrialized. Pop: 9 108 645 (2003 est). Area: 23 804 sq km (9284 sq miles)
Italian name: Lombardia (ˌlombarˈdiːa)
Lombardy in American English
(ˈlɑmbərdi)
region of N Italy, on the Swiss border: 9,213 sq mi (23,862 sq km); pop. 8,856,000; chief city, Milan
: It. name Lomˈbardia (lɔmˈbɑʀdjɑ)
Word origin
the region was invaded and settled by Lombards in the 6th c. a.d.