Main Entry:

Ire·land

Pronunciation:

\ˈī(-ə)r-lənd\

Function:

geographical name

1or Latin Hi·ber·nia \hī-ˈbər-nē-ə\ island W Europe in the Atlantic, one of the British Isles area 32,052 square miles (83,015 square kilometers); divided between Ireland (republic) & Northern Ireland2or Ei·re \ˈer-ə\ country occupying major portion of the island; a republic since 1949; a division of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801–1921 & (as Irish Free State) a dominion of the Commonwealth of Nations 1922–37 ∗ Dublin area 26,602 square miles (69,165 square kilometers), population 3,917,2033 — see northern ireland