tombolo

noun

tom·​bo·​lo ˈtōm-bə-ˌlō How to pronounce tombolo (audio) ˈtäm- How to pronounce tombolo (audio)
plural tombolos
: a sand or gravel bar connecting an island with the mainland or another island

Examples of tombolo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web On another visit to the island, Cushman and I had anchored in Presque Isle Bay, and trekked on a tombolo, a bridge of sand connecting Presque Isle Point to the rest of Stockton Island, dotted with flowers. Brian Clark, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2022 Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii Located on the sunny southern shore of Kauai, Poipu Beach is actually made up of two spectacular beaches separated by a narrow sand spit called a tombolo. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 20 May 2020 After its shadowy start in a deep pine forest, the canopy opens overhead as the trail winds past a large swamp and across swaths of huge rocks to the tombolo — a spit of land that connects to Governor’s Island. Peter Marteka, courant.com, 9 Oct. 2019 The trail crosses swaths of huge rocks to a tombolo — a spit of land that connects to Governor’s Island. Peter Marteka, courant.com, 27 Sep. 2019 Recent storms have made the tombolo weaker, so currents are increasing within the lagoon, but the beach still remains a safe bet for families. Timbers Kauai, The Seattle Times, 18 Sep. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tombolo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Latin tumulus mound, tumulus

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tombolo was in 1899

Dictionary Entries Near tombolo

Cite this Entry

“Tombolo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tombolo. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

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