Bahamas

[buh-hah-muhz, -hey-]

noun

1. (used with a plural verb),  a group of islands in the W Atlantic Ocean, SE of Florida.

2. (used with a singular verb),  an independent country comprising this group: formerly a British colony; gained independence 1973. 4,404 sq. mi. (11,406 sq. km). Nassau.

Bahamas

/ bəˈhɑːməz /

plural noun

1. a group of over 700 coral islands (about 20 of which are inhabited) in the Caribbean: a British colony from 1783 until 1964; an independent nation within the Commonwealth from 1973. Language: English. Currency: Bahamian dollar. Capital: Nassau. Pop: 319 031 (2013 est). Area: 13 939 sq km (5381 sq miles)

Bahamas

1. Republic in the Atlantic Ocean, consisting of 700 islands and islets and 2,400 smaller islands, called cays.

The Bahamas were under the control of Britain until 1973, when they became an independent, self-governing state.

The Bahamas are a popular winter resort.

Other Word Forms

• Bahamian noun

Example Sentences

US emergency response teams have also been sent this week to Caribbean locations including Jamaica, Haiti and the Bahamas.

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A series of luxury vacations drew criticism for being tone deaf - including one trip to the private island of the Aga Khan in the Bahamas, which was found to have violated federal conflict-of-interest laws.

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Flooding is expected to subside in the Bahamas later on Thursday, although it could persist in Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the US National Hurricane Center said.

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Although downgraded from a Category 5 to a Category 1 storm, Melissa gathered speed as it swept through the Bahamas on Thursday and is expected to make landfall in Bermuda later.

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The hurricane began moving north east towards The Bahamas on Wednesday.

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