peninsula

[ puh-nin-suh-luh, -nins-yuh-luh ]

/ pəˈnɪn sə lə, -ˈnɪns yə lə /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR peninsula ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an area of land almost completely surrounded by water except for an isthmus connecting it with the mainland.

the Peninsula,

Spain and Portugal together; Iberian Peninsula; Iberia.
a district in SE Virginia between the York and James rivers: Civil War battles.

RELATED WORDS

headland, cape, neck, point, chersonese

Nearby words

penicillinase, penicillium, penicillus, penile, penillion, peninsula, peninsula war, peninsular state, peninsular war, peninsulate, penis

Origin of peninsula

1530–40; < Latin paenīnsula, equivalent to paen- pen- + īnsula island

Related forms

pen·in·su·lar, adjectivepen·in·su·lar·ism, pen·in·su·lar·i·ty

[puh-nin-suh-lar-i-tee, -nins-yuh-] /pəˌnɪn səˈlær ɪ ti, -ˌnɪns yə-/, nountrans·pen·in·su·lar, adjective

Can be confused

cape peninsula promontory

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for peninsula

On one side of the silver medallion is a raised image of the outline of the Crimean peninsula.
Putin’s Crimean Medal of Honor, Forged Before the War Even Began|Will Cathcart|April 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The snap referendum was held two weeks after Russian forces seized the peninsula and blockaded Ukrainian soldiers in their bases.
Ukraine Expects U.S. Military Help If War With Russia Starts|Jamie Dettmer|March 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The peninsula had been transferred for administrative reasons from Russia to Ukraine in 1954.
Russia’s American Crimea Hero|Ben Jacobs|March 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Korean peninsula, because of the existence of the Kim regime, is always dangerous territory, but perhaps it is more so now.
The Ominous Meaning of North Korea’s Missile Launches|Gordon G. Chang|February 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Late on the evening of February 23, theYanukovych motorcade was seen heading to a private resort on the Crimean peninsula.
Where in the World Is Yanukovych?|Oleg Shynkarenko|February 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Occasionally this neck of land has been broken through or overflowed, and the peninsula has then been converted into an island.
The Voyage of the Vega round Asia and Europe, Volume I and Volume II|A.E. Nordenskieold
The provincial feeling, always unreasonably strong in the Peninsula, found full vent.
A History of England, Period III.|Rev. J. Franck Bright
In this peninsula, called the Land of Caux, it was Henry's intention to shut up his enemy.
History of the United Netherlands, 1590-1599, Vol. III. Complete|John Lothrop Motley
No one can yet believe that France will be mad enough to march troops into the Peninsula.
Memoirs of the Court of George IV. 1820-1830 (Vol 1)|Duke of Buckingham and Chandos
Such dolls are seen commonly hanging in the air at this season in the Sorrento peninsula.
Naples Past and Present|Arthur H. Norway

British Dictionary definitions for peninsula (1 of 2)

peninsula

/ (pɪˈnɪnsjʊlə) /

noun

a narrow strip of land projecting into a sea or lake from the mainland

Derived Forms

peninsular, adjective

Word Origin for peninsula

C16: from Latin, literally: almost an island, from paene pene- + insula island

usage

The noun peninsula is sometimes confused with the adjective peninsular: the Iberian peninsula (not peninsular)

British Dictionary definitions for peninsula (2 of 2)

Peninsula

noun

the Peninsula short for the Iberian Peninsula

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

Science definitions for peninsula

peninsula

[ pə-nĭn′syə-lə ]

A piece of land that projects into a body of water and is connected with a larger landmass.

Culture definitions for peninsula

peninsula

A body of land enclosed on three sides by water, jutting out from a larger body of land.

peninsula

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of peninsula

Related forms

Can be confused

Examples from the Web for peninsula

British Dictionary definitions for peninsula (1 of 2)

peninsula

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for peninsula

usage

British Dictionary definitions for peninsula (2 of 2)

Peninsula

noun

Science definitions for peninsula

peninsula

Culture definitions for peninsula

peninsula