island

[ ahy-luhnd ]

/ ˈaɪ lənd /

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See synonyms for: island / islanded / islanding / islands on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

safety island.

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.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of island

before 900; Middle English iland,Old English īgland, īland, variant of īegland, equivalent to īeg island (cognate with Old Norse ey) + landland; spelling with -s- by association with isle

OTHER WORDS FROM island

is·land·ish, is·land·like, adjectiveis·land·less, adjective

Words nearby island

Islamist, Islamite, Islamize, Islamofascism, Islamophobia, island, island arc, islander, island fox, island-hop, island of Reil

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use island in a sentence

This work focused on the island territory of Turks and Caicos.
Analyze This: Hurricanes may help lizards evolve better grips|Carolyn Wilke|August 26, 2020|Science News For Students
When they tested it on a small island off the coast of Spain, the vaccine seemed to spread to more than half of the local rabbit population.
Can Vaccines for Wildlife Prevent Human Pandemics?|Rodrigo Pérez Ortega|August 24, 2020|Quanta Magazine
While walking across the island on a recent vacation, I was often interested in locating the point on the shore that was nearest to my current position.
Can You Reach The Beach?|Zach Wissner-Gross|August 7, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Critical exponents describe the details of this process, such as how the biggest islands grow.
The Cartoon Picture of Magnets That Has Transformed Science|Charlie Wood|June 24, 2020|Quanta Magazine

Moreover, Mathur said, the testing, surveillance and tracing strategy is “so robust” in the island nation that every positive test result leads to all of the patient’s contacts being tested as well.
Why South Asia’s COVID-19 Numbers Are So Low (For Now)|Puja Changoiwala|June 23, 2020|Quanta Magazine
But Krauss said that from the moment he and the other scientists arrived on the island, they never saw anything untoward.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking|M.L. Nestel|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Let Jourdan Dunn be the first of many—not an island, or badge of self-congratulation.
One Vogue Cover Doesn’t Solve Fashion’s Big Race Problem|Danielle Belton|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Guy Molinari, a former Staten Island borough president, pushed back against that view.
Will Dirty Pol Vito Fossella Replace Dirty Pol Michael Grimm?|David Freedlander|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They were able to purchase weapons and plot attacks on the island without much interference.
Of Cuban Spies, a Baby, and a Filmmaker: The Strange Tale of the Cuban Five|Nina Strochlic|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They were called La Red Avispa (The Wasp Network) and claim to have successfully foiled a number of threats against the island.
Of Cuban Spies, a Baby, and a Filmmaker: The Strange Tale of the Cuban Five|Nina Strochlic|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A lateen sail was visible in the direction of Cat Island, and others to the south seemed almost motionless in the far distance.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
A volcano broke out in the island of St. George, one of the Azores.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
The Dutch fleet attacked Burnt island, in Scotland, but were repulsed.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
In 1622 a monopoly of the importation of tobacco was granted to the Virginia and Somers Island, companies.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
At last the report of several rifles from the island of trees gave us a clue to the mystery.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various

British Dictionary definitions for island

island

/ (ˈaɪlənd) /

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 surroundingsRelated adjective: insular

verb (tr) rare

to cause to become an island

to intersperse with islands

to place on an island; insulate; isolate

Derived forms of island

island-like, adjective

Word Origin for island

Old English īgland, from īg island + land; s inserted through influence of isle

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

Scientific definitions for island

island

[ ī′lənd ]

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

island

Origin of island

OTHER WORDS FROM island

Words nearby island

Words related to island

How to use island in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for island

Derived forms of island

Word Origin for island

Scientific definitions for island