Micronesia

[ mahy-kruh-nee-zhuh, ‐shuh ]

/ ˌmaɪ krəˈni ʒə, ‐ʃə /

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noun

one of the three principal divisions of Oceania, comprising the small Pacific islands north of the equator and east of the Philippines, whose main groups are the Mariana Islands, the Caroline Islands, and the Marshall Islands.

Federated States of Micronesia, a group of islands in the western Pacific, in the Caroline Islands, comprising the islands of Pohnpei, Truk, Yap, and Kosrae: formerly a part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and now a self-governing area associated with the United States. 271 square miles (701 square kilometers).

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Words nearby Micronesia

micromobility, micromotion, micromount, micron, micronation, Micronesia, Micronesian, micronize, micronucleate, micronucleus, micronutrient

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

How to use Micronesia in a sentence

Stretched across boards and swatches of windsurfer sails, the staffs suggest rafts, whether of the actual sort Davis saw while traveling in Micronesia or symbolic ones on which to brave rising sea levels.
In the galleries: Images focus on the future of the planet|Mark Jenkins|May 28, 2021|Washington Post
The songs originated from places as varied as Micronesia and Western Africa, Southeastern Europe and Southern South America.
What Makes Music Universal - Issue 99: Universality|Kevin Berger|April 29, 2021|Nautilus
It has medical writing, but it also has travel writing: going to Micronesia to see this island of colorblind people.
Oliver Sacks: How I Write|Noah Charney|December 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Texas is also well ahead of Rwanda (44), Micronesia (51), and Egypt (50).
Gail Collins on Texas’s Abstinence Sex Education Problems|Gail Collins|June 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Singularly enough, this feature also characterizes some of the languages of Micronesia.
Alphabetical Vocabularies of the Clallum and Lummi|George Gibbs
Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia, are the names by which we know them.
The Pacific Triangle|Sydney Greenbie
In that, and naked otherwise, she moves with an incomparable liberty and grace and life, that marks the poetry of Micronesia.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 18 (of 25)|Robert Louis Stevenson
Kanoa and his wife, the good Hawaiian missionaries to Micronesia, came with their little baby to bid us good-by.
Scenes in the Hawaiian Islands and California|Mary Evarts Anderson
Then Kanoa, the missionary to Micronesia, made a prayer; after which, he and his wife sung a Micronesian hymn.
Scenes in the Hawaiian Islands and California|Mary Evarts Anderson

British Dictionary definitions for Micronesia

Micronesia

/ (ˌmaɪkrəʊˈniːzɪə) /

noun

one of the three divisions of islands in the Pacific (the others being Melanesia and Polynesia); the NW division of Oceania: includes the Mariana, Caroline, Marshall, and Kiribati island groups, and Nauru Island

Federated States of Micronesia an island group in the W Pacific, formerly within the United States Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands: comprises the islands of Truk, Yap, Ponape, and Kosrae: formed in 1979 when the islands became self-governing: status of free association with the US from 1982. Languages: English and Micronesian languages. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: US dollar. Capital: Palikir. Pop: 106 104 (2013 est)

Word Origin for Micronesia

C19: from micro- + Greek nēsos island; so called from the small size of many of the islands; on the model of Polynesia

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