island
Americannoun
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islands
plural
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a tract of land completely surrounded by water, and not large enough to be called a continent.
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something resembling an island, especially in being isolated or having little or no direct communication with others.
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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.
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a low concrete platform for gasoline pumps at an automotive service station.
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a clump of woodland in a prairie.
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an isolated hill.
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Anatomy. an isolated portion of tissue differing in structure from the surrounding tissue.
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Railroads. a platform or building between sets of tracks.
verb (used with object)
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to make into an island.
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to dot with islands.
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to place on an island; isolate.
noun
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a mass of land that is surrounded by water and is smaller than a continent
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See traffic island
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anatomy a part, structure, or group of cells distinct in constitution from its immediate surroundings
verb
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to cause to become an island
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to intersperse with islands
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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
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Physical Geography - Middle School
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Physical Geography - High School
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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:
And the Marines might struggle to get large numbers of FPV drones to isolated island outposts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
It was while watching an eclipse on May 29, 1919 on the West African island of Principe that British astronomer Arthur Eddington confirmed Albert Einstein's theory of relativity.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
The island opens up about American role in training troops for self-defense.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
He visited many lands, but mostly dwelt with the nymph Calypso on her island.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 4, 2026
"I hope so....But, what did you say, what island?"
From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios
FPV drones could play an important role for the Marine Corps, which has been retooling to have a more nimble footprint and operate from remote islands in the Indo-Pacific.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
As she’s recently learned, it’s an adventure that sails smack into islands of musky internet trolls and clashes with cinematic and literary titans like Christopher Nolan and Joyce Carol Oates.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
Turkish travel agents say most of them took advantage of the express visa to see the islands.
From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026
Fires have also broken out on the islands of Paros, Andros and Kalymnos.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
It wasn’t easy to see because the desk was stacked with books about oceans and islands; magazines about boats and rafts; videos about seabirds and animals.
From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr
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.
