Definition of: Rio de Janeiro

(rē′ō də jə·nâr′ō, zhə·nâr′ō; Pg. rē′· thə zhə·nā′r)
The capital of Brazil (until the transfer of the federal capital, in April, 1960, to the new city of Bra·si·li·a (brə·zē′lē·ə), located in a federal district, on the central plateau of Goiás state, about 120 miles NE of Goiânia, the state capital), a port on Guanabara Bay or Rio de Janeiro Bay: also Rio. An inhabitant of the city is known as a Carioca.
2. A state in SE Brazil; 16,439 square miles; capital, Niterói.