Al·giers (?l-jîrz?) The capital and largest city of Algeria, in the northern part of the country on the Mediterranean Sea. An ancient North African port, Algiers was captured by French forces in 1830 and was later a pivotal center of the struggle for Algerian independence.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.Algiers (æl?d???z) n (Placename) the capital of Algeria, an ancient port on the Mediterranean; until 1830 a centre of piracy. Pop: 3 260 000 (2005 est). Arabic name: Al-Jezair French name: Alger Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014Al?giers (æl?d???rz) n. 1. the capital of Algeria, in the N part. 1,839,000. 2. one of the former Barbary States: now Algeria. Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.