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.
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.
Origin of island
before 900;Middle Englishiland,Old Englishīgland, īland, variant of īegland, equivalent to īeg island (cognate with Old Norseey) + landland; spelling with -s- by association with isle
Related formsis·land·ish, is·land·like, adjectiveis·land·less, adjective
1590s, earlier yland (c.1300), from Old English igland "island," from ieg "island" (from Proto-Germanic *aujo "thing on the water," from PIE *akwa- "water;" see aqua-) + land "land." Spelling modified 15c. by association with similar but unrelated isle. An Old English cognate was ealand "river-land, watered place, meadow by a river." In place names, Old English ieg is often used of "slightly raised dry ground offering settlement sites in areas surrounded by marsh or subject to flooding" [Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names]. Related: Islander.
