Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(wing). Chief city of Cilicia, Asia Minor, on river Cydnus, six miles from the Mediterranean. Birthplace of Paul and rival of Athens and Alexandria in literature and fine arts (Acts 9:11,30; 11:25; 21:39; 22:3). At the mouth of the Cydnus were fine docks, and Tarsus had, at one time, considerable commercial importance. Some would identify it with Tarshish. It was founded by the Assyrian, Sardanapalus, and was captured by the Romans and made a free city. It is now represented by Tersons, a mean Turkish city with a fluctuating population.
Concise Bible Dictionary:
The capital of Cilicia, in Asia Minor. It ranked as a city of importance, called by Paul “no mean city.” It was a seat of learning under the early Roman emperors and was ranked by Strabo as even above Athens and Alexandria: it was Paul’s native place, and he visited it after his conversion (Acts 9:11, 30; Acts 11:25; Acts 21:39; Acts 22:3). It is now called Tersus, a small town, with scarcely any trace of its former greatness. The river Cydnus, which in the days of Cyrus and Alexander flowed through the city, now runs about half a mile east of it. The houses are mostly but one story in height, built with stones apparently taken from larger buildings.
Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:
Meaning:
perhaps the same as ταρσός (a flat basket); Tarsus, a place in Asia Minor
Jackson’s Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:
a flat basket
Potts’ Bible Proper Names:
Joy; pleasantness; flat; firmness; hardness:―a place in Asia Minor, Acts 9:30. {Oblectatio; iucunditas}