- the capital of Schleswig-Holstein in N Germany, at the Baltic end of the Kiel Canal.
- a port in N Germany, capital of Schleswig-Holstein state, on the Kiel Canal (connecting the North Sea with the Baltic): joined the Hanseatic League in 1284; became part of Denmark in 1773 and passed to Prussia in 1866; an important naval base in World Wars I and II; shipbuilding and engineering industries. Pop: 233 039 (2003 est)
