Austronesian

[ aw-stroh-nee-zhuh n, -shuh n ]
/ ˌɔ stroʊˈni ʒən, -ʃən /

noun

Also called Malayo-Polynesian. a family of languages spoken in the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Madagascar, and Oceania.

adjective

of or relating to Austronesia or the Austronesian family of languages; Malayo-Polynesian.

QUIZZES

CAN YOU FEEL THE WEAL WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ?

Did you collect all of last week’s words, but eftsoons forget what they mean? Don’t worry, we’re here to jog your memory. See how many words from the week of May 18 to 24 you can get right!
Question 1 of 7
weal
well-being, prosperity, or happiness.
the intervening time.
a somewhat prolonged, sharp, shrill cry, as of pain, fear, or surprise.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of Austronesian

First recorded in 1900–05; Austronesi(a) + -an
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for austronesian

British Dictionary definitions for austronesian

Austronesian
/ (ˌɒstrəʊˈniːʒən, -ʃən) /

adjective

of or relating to Austronesia, its peoples, or their languages

noun

another name for Malayo-Polynesian
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012