island
Americannoun
-
islands
plural
-
a tract of land completely surrounded by water, and not large enough to be called a continent.
-
something resembling an island, especially in being isolated or having little or no direct communication with others.
-
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.
-
a low concrete platform for gasoline pumps at an automotive service station.
-
a clump of woodland in a prairie.
-
an isolated hill.
-
Anatomy. an isolated portion of tissue differing in structure from the surrounding tissue.
-
Railroads. a platform or building between sets of tracks.
verb (used with object)
-
to make into an island.
-
to dot with islands.
-
to place on an island; isolate.
noun
-
a mass of land that is surrounded by water and is smaller than a continent
-
See traffic island
-
anatomy a part, structure, or group of cells distinct in constitution from its immediate surroundings
verb
-
to cause to become an island
-
to intersperse with islands
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Physical Geography - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Physical Geography - High School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
About 80 degrees North, this remote island area was once covered by a shallow sea.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026
Aid disruptions and aftershocks across the Indonesian island of Flores are fuelling fears among thousands of survivors who were displaced by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake on Saturday.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
Fire officials said nearly 200 firefighters were working to extinguish the flames on the island of Salamina and keep them from converging, Greek media report.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
The epicentre of the shallow quake was just north of Flores island in eastern Indonesia.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
I just need to get to Nim’s island right away.
From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr
Yes, we do have that reputation on these islands, and I’m incredibly proud of it, because you know what it does?
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
Hurricane Lala disrupted travel between Los Angeles and Hawaii on Saturday, canceling flights from LAX to destinations across the islands as the Category 1 storm approached the Big Island.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
Across the weekend, it will continue moving westwards, and may weaken into a tropical storm, with the centre passing just below Hawaii's other islands.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Russian-Japanese relations have long been dogged by the contested islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories and seized by the Soviet Union in 1945.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
Enchanted islands; unicorns, and krakens, and gold-horned hares.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
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.
