island
Americannoun
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a tract of land completely surrounded by water, and not large enough to be called a continent.
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something resembling an island, especially in being isolated or having little or no direct communication with others.
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a raised platform with a counter or other work surface on top situated in the middle area of a room, especially a kitchen, so as to permit access from all sides.
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a low concrete platform for gasoline pumps at an automotive service station.
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a clump of woodland in a prairie.
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an isolated hill.
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Anatomy. an isolated portion of tissue differing in structure from the surrounding tissue.
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Railroads. a platform or building between sets of tracks.
verb (used with object)
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to make into an island.
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to dot with islands.
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to place on an island; isolate.
noun
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a mass of land that is surrounded by water and is smaller than a continent
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See traffic island
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anatomy a part, structure, or group of cells distinct in constitution from its immediate surroundings
verb
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to cause to become an island
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to intersperse with islands
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to place on an island; insulate; isolate
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of island
First recorded before 900; Middle English iland, Old English īgland, īland, variant of īegland, from īeg “island” (cognate with Old Norse ey ) + land land; spelling with -s- by association with isle
Explanation
An island is a piece of land that is surrounded on all sides by water. Some islands are so small that a beach chair and umbrella barely fit on them and some are big enough to contain a whole nation. To get to an island you must take a boat, bridge or airplane — be a strong swimmer. If you can get there by land it’s not an island, though it may be a peninsula, like Florida. There are many famous islands, like Manhattan and the islands of Hawaii. Things that are free-standing can also be called islands, like the island made of cabinets and a counter that is found in some kitchens — it's not connected to anything else.
Vocabulary lists containing island
Physical Geography - Introductory
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Physical Geography - Middle School
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Physical Geography - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Allegedly, they were hoping to tie the knot in Rhode Island, where Swift has an oceanside property, on June 13, but that plan fell through after it was leaked to the press.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026
It shows that the fossil site is the oldest known cave on New Zealand's North Island.
From Science Daily • Jun. 23, 2026
Located on Leyte Island in the Visayas region, the city was among the worst-hit by Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 that killed 6,000 and plunged many in the region into deeper poverty.
From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026
That would include Nina Eichacker, an economist at the University of Rhode Island.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 22, 2026
Maybe there was something magical about Gingerbread Island.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
