island

¹is·land

noun, often attributive \ˈī-lənd\

Definition of ISLAND

1

: a tract of land surrounded by water and smaller than a continent

2

: something resembling an island especially in its isolated or surrounded position: as

a : a usually raised area within a thoroughfare, parking lot, or driveway used especially to separate or direct traffic

b : a superstructure on the deck of a ship (as an aircraft carrier)

c : a kitchen counter that is approachable from all sides

3

: an isolated group or area; especially : an isolated ethnological group

Examples of ISLAND

1. He lives on an island in the Caribbean.
2. <the island of Hawaii is the largest in the Hawaiian archipelago>

Origin of ISLAND

alteration (influenced by Anglo-French isle) of earlier iland, from Middle English, from Old English īgland (akin to Old Norse eyland), from īg island (akin to Old English ēa river, Latin aqua water) + land land

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to ISLAND

Synonyms

isle, islet

Related Words

atoll, barrier reef, cay, coral reef, key

Near Antonyms

continent, main, mainland

Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

Rhymes with ISLAND

highland, Highland

²island

transitive verb

Definition of ISLAND

1

a : to make into or as if into an island

b : to dot with or as if with islands

2

: isolate

First Known Use of ISLAND

1661

Island

geographical name

Definition of ISLAND

— see iceland

Variants of ISLAND

Island or Ísland

is·land

noun \ˈī-lənd\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of ISLAND

: an isolated anatomical structure, tissue, or group of cells

island

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any area of land smaller than a continent and entirely surrounded by water. Islands may occur in oceans, seas, lakes, or rivers. A group of islands is called an archipelago. Continental islands are simply unsubmerged parts of a continental mass that are entirely surrounded by water; Greenland, the world's largest island, is of the continental type. Oceanic islands are produced by volcanic activity, when lava accumulates to enormous thickness until it finally protrudes above the ocean surface. The piles of lava that form Hawaii rise as high as 32,000 ft (9,700 m) above the ocean floor.