islet

[ahy-lit]

noun

1. a very small island.

adjective

1. Anatomy.,  situated in or pertaining to the islet of Langerhans.

   islet cells.

islet

/ ˈaɪlɪt /

noun

1. a small island

Other Word Forms

• isleted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of islet¹

From the Middle French word islette, dating back to 1530–40. See isle, -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of islet¹

C16: from Old French islette; see _isle

Example Sentences

Those in larger islets were still attacked, but were more durable allowing patients to still produce low levels of insulin which reduced the severity of their disease.

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His social media content includes mockery of the European Parliament, tirades against corruption and a video of him travelling on a jet ski to plant a Spanish flag on an islet off Morocco.

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It targeted poor countries, emerging economies and tiny irrelevant islets based on that data.

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The new approach could be used to stop the body from rejecting transplanted organs and tissues, such as pancreatic islet cells, which are sometimes used to treat type 1 diabetes.

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For now, some patients with poorly controlled T1D may consider islet cell transplantation using beta cells from a donor.

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Related Words

• archipelago 
• enclave 
• isle 
• peninsula 
• reef