1
The lobe, or lobule, of the ear; رُومٌ has the same meaning.
2a certain well-known nation—الرُّومُ
[It is also applied to the country of that people, both in Europe and Asia, and sometimes only in Asia.]
The Arabs say they are descendants of Er-Room, the son of Esau (عيصُو, so called by the Arabs), the son of Isaac the Prophet.
[That is, the Greeks; generally those of the Lower Empire, but sometimes only those of Asia, and sometimes those of the Lower Empire together with all the other nations of Europe as well. The ancient Greeks are more properly called by the Arabs اليُونَانُ.]
one person of that nation—رُومِىٌّ
that nation taken collectively—رُومٌ
Compare زِنْجِىٌّ and زِنْجٌ, where the first differs from the second only by the doubled ى, just as تَمْرَةٌ differs from تَمْرٌ, its plural [or rather ism jamʿ], only by the ة. رُومِىٌّ has for its proper plural أَرْوَامٌ.
the Sea of the Greeks, meaning the Mediterranean Sea—بَحْرُ الرُّومِ
Show Lane's original text
The lobe, or lobule, of the ear; (M, K;) as also رُومٌ . (K.) الرُّومُ A certain nation, (M, K,) well known; (M;) [said by the Arabs to be] descendants of Er-Room, the son of Esau ( عيصُو [so called by the Arabs]), (T, * S, K,) the son of Isaac the Prophet; (TA;) [i. e. the Greeks; generally meaning, of the Lower Empire; but sometimes, only those of Asia; and sometimes those of the Lower Empire together with all the nations of Europe beside: the ancient Greeks are more properly called by the Arabs اليُونَانُ :] one says رُومِىٌّ and رُومٌ ; (S, K;) the former of these two appellations being applied to a single person, (M, K,) and the latter being the pl., (S, K,) [or rather a coll. gen. n.,] like زِنْجِىٌّ and زِنْجٌ ; (AAF, S, M;) the former being distinguished from the latter only by the doubled ى , like as تَمْرَةٌ is distinguished from تَمْرٌ its pl. [or coll. gen. n.] only by the ة : (S:) and رُومِىٌّ has for [its proper] pl. أَرْوَامٌ . (TA.) [It is also applied to The country of the nation, or people, so called, both in Europe and Asia, and sometimes only in Asia. Hence, بَحْرُ الرُّومِ The Sea of the Greeks; meaning the Mediterranean Sea.]