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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: such asa : a usually raised area within a thoroughfare, parking lot, or driveway used especially to separate or direct trafficb : a superstructure on the deck of a ship (such 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
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Examples of island in a Sentence
He lives on an island in the Caribbean.
the island of Hawaii is the largest in the Hawaiian archipelago
Recent Examples of island from the Web
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Before leaving the island in 2015, Negron had lined up a legal assistant job at an Orlando law firm.
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In the past the EU has responded to fishing disputes with Norway and the Faroe islands by banning all imports.
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Supporters of that theory have visited the island repeatedly.
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There’s never been something like this where people were stranded on an island.
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Residents complained that the island would eliminate one lane, backing up the heavy traffic even more.
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Major Lazer, Blink-182, and other promised musical guests didn't show up, and instead of the villas attendees expected, plastic tents stood on the Bahamas island where the event was set to take place.
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During the island's San Juan festival, held each year on June 23 and 24, Minorcan race horses gallop and prance on their rear legs through the streets of Ciutadella to honor of the town's patron saint.
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Porto Heli's constellation of inlets means the water is both calmer and warmer than off some of the Cycladic islands—
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'island'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
The words island and isle are etymologically distinct. Island can be traced back to Old English īgland, composed of two elements īg and land. Land, as we might expect means “land,” but īg means “island” in Old English. In a sense, then, īgland is “island-land.” The English isle, on the other hand, is derived through medieval French from the Latin insula. In the 16th century, under the influence of isle, the letter s was added to iland, the earlier form of island. The verb island did not appear until the 17th century.
Origin and Etymology 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
Other Geology Terms
anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale
First Known Use of island
1661
ISLAND Defined for Kids
island
playDefinition of island for Students
1 : an area of land surrounded by water and smaller than a continent
2 : something like an island in its isolation We have a counter island in our kitchen.
Medical Dictionary
island
playMedical Definition of island
: an isolated anatomical structure, tissue, or group of cells
Learn More about island
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See words that rhyme with island Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for island Spanish Central: Translation of island Nglish: Translation of island for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of island for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about island
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