island

is-land · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A piece of land surrounded by water.

  2. 2.

    Something resembling an island, especially in being isolated or surrounded.

  3. 3.

    A traffic island; a raised area in a road.

  4. 4.

    An isolated or detached thing.

Forms

plural: islands

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    no man is an island — everyone depends on others
  • •
    desert island — an uninhabited tropical island
  • •
    island hopping — traveling between islands
  • •
    traffic island — a raised area in a road for pedestrian safety

Related words

Antonyms: continent, mainland
See also: archipelago, isle, mainland, peninsula
Synonyms: atoll, cay, isle, key

Etymology

From Old English "īegland" (island), from "īeg" (island) + "land" (land). The 's' was added in the 15th century through false association with Latin "insula" (island), despite the words being unrelated. The 's' is silent.