city, Uzbekistan. The city lies in the middle of the Tashkent oasis. Formerly a village on the site of the ancient settlement of Kaunchi-Tepe, it developed between World Wars I and II because of its proximity to Tashkent and its situation on the Tashkent–Samarkand railway and Great Uzbek Highway. It is now a thriving centre of food and other light industries. Pop. (latest est.) 56,900.