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mainland

[ meyn-land, -luhnd ]
/ ˈmeÉȘnˌlĂŠnd, -lənd /
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noun
the principal land of a country, region, etc., as distinguished from adjacent islands or a peninsula: the mainland of Greece.
any part of or all of the continental United States or conterminous United States, especially from the perspective of someone in a geographically detached U.S. state or territory, such as Hawaii or Guam:I’m not sure where on the mainland Jasmine went to college, but it may have been Milwaukee.
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Origin of mainland

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English; see origin at main1, land

Other definitions for mainland (2 of 2)

Mainland
[ meyn-land, -luhnd ]
/ ˈmeÉȘnˌlĂŠnd, -lənd /

noun
the largest of the Shetland Islands. About 200 sq. mi. (520 sq. km).
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use mainland in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mainland (1 of 2)

mainland
/ (ˈmeÉȘnlənd) /

noun
the main part of a land mass as opposed to an island or peninsula
the mainland a particular landmass as viewed from a nearby island with which it has close links, such as Great Britain as viewed from Northern Ireland or continental Australia as viewed from Tasmania

Derived forms of mainland

mainlander, noun

British Dictionary definitions for mainland (2 of 2)

Mainland
/ (ˈmeÉȘnlənd) /

noun
an island off N Scotland: the largest of the Shetland Islands. Chief town: Lerwick. Pop: 17 550 (2001). Area: about 583 sq km (225 sq miles)
Also called: Pomona an island off N Scotland: the largest of the Orkney Islands. Chief town: Kirkwall. Pop: 15 315 (2001). Area: 492 sq km (190 sq miles)
the Mainland NZ a South Islanders' name for South Island
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
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