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.

---

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

---

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.

---

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

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.

Example Sentences

Photos of island poverty and ruin, strewn across social media, don’t lie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Lowry notched his second career hole-in-one on the PGA Tour at the 2022 Players Championship, when he found the cup at perhaps the most picturesque par-3 in golf: the 17th hole with an island green.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Greenland, the world’s largest island, is bigger than Mexico, but home to fewer than 60,000 people, with no roads connecting settlements.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

She cannot wait to see the puffins that are due to return to the island as the end of this month.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Jack liked maps; he drew maps of their island, the currents around it, and the places where they’d sailed.

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr

Related Words

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