island

American  

[ahy-luhnd] / ˈaɪ lənd /

noun

1. a tract of land completely surrounded by water, and not large enough to be called a continent.

2. something resembling an island, especially in being isolated or having little or no direct communication with others.

3. 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.

4. safety island.

5. a low concrete platform for gasoline pumps at an automotive service station.

6. a clump of woodland in a prairie.

7. an isolated hill.

8. Anatomy.  an isolated portion of tissue differing in structure from the surrounding tissue.

9. Railroads.  a platform or building between sets of tracks.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make into an island.

2. to dot with islands.

3. to place on an island; isolate.

island British  

/ ˈaɪlənd /

noun

1. a mass of land that is surrounded by water and is smaller than a continent

2. See traffic island

3. anatomy a part, structure, or group of cells distinct in constitution from its immediate surroundings

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verb

1. to cause to become an island

2. to intersperse with islands

3. to place on an island; insulate; isolate

island Scientific  

/ ī′lənd /

1. A land mass, especially one smaller than a continent, entirely surrounded by water.

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Other Word Forms

• island-like adjective
• islandish adjective
• islandless adjective
• islandlike adjective

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

Example Sentences

The school, on an island in the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul, is now being renovated.

From The Wall Street Journal

The island’s other, undamaged, reactor restarted in 1985 but ultimately succumbed to market forces.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Now that it's on the island of Ireland, they are very concerned, and I imagine they will be organising the availability of vaccines for their farmers," he said.

From BBC

Its monumental earthworks, forest islands, and living cultural traditions suggest that part of our shared future may depend on listening more closely to these landscapes that remember.

From Science Daily

Separate weather systems brought torrential, extended rainfall to the entire island of Sri Lanka and large parts of Indonesia's Sumatra, southern Thailand and northern Malaysia last week.

From Barron's

Related Words

• archipelago
• enclave
• isle
• islet
• peninsula
• reef