Islands
ˈaɪləndz
Definitions
3 meaningsA landmass smaller than a continent, completely surrounded by water.
ˈaɪləndz
A piece of land surrounded by water.
The ship sailed towards a remote group of islands.
💡 Simply: Think of it as a piece of land like Hawaii or the Maldives, surrounded by water on all sides! A getaway spot!
👶 For kids: A island is a piece of land that has water all around it.
More Examples
She dreamed of living on a tropical island.
The Galapagos Islands are known for their unique wildlife.
How It's Used
"The Hawaiian Islands are a popular tourist destination."
"The novel centered around a shipwrecked character stranded on a tropical island."
A place or thing that is isolated or separated from others.
ˈaɪləndz
Something isolated or separated.
He lived in an island of luxury, far from the problems of the city.
💡 Simply: Sometimes, we use 'island' to describe feeling alone or separate from everyone else, like being on an island all by yourself. For instance, 'she felt like an island because she didn't know anyone at the party!'
👶 For kids: Sometimes, island can mean something that's all alone, like if you're the only one who likes a certain thing.
More Examples
The museum felt like an island of culture in the industrial landscape.
The small town was an island of resistance against the invading army.
How It's Used
"The city felt like an island of calm in a sea of chaos."
"She felt like an island, disconnected from her peers."
A raised surface, often in a kitchen or traffic setting, that provides additional space.
ˈaɪləndz
A raised, usually counter-like, surface.
The kitchen island provided extra counter space.
💡 Simply: Picture the big table in the middle of a kitchen where you can prepare food. Or, the raised section in the middle of a road. Those are also called islands!
👶 For kids: Sometimes an island is a special table in the kitchen!
More Examples
Traffic islands are designed to improve traffic flow.
The conference room had an island table for presentations.
How It's Used
"The kitchen featured a large island for food preparation."
"The traffic island helped regulate the flow of vehicles."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
island hopping
The activity of visiting several islands in a group or chain, typically for travel or recreation.
"We are going island hopping in the Caribbean this summer."
no man is an island
A person cannot live or be successful alone; everyone needs social connections and support.
"Despite his success, he eventually learned that no man is an island, and he needed help."
From Old English īegland, meaning 'island', which is a compound of īeg (island) and land (land). The spelling with 's' emerged through influence from the French word isle, which was not etymologically connected.
The word 'island' has been used for centuries to describe land surrounded by water, its usage relatively consistent over time. Figurative usage relating to isolation began to appear in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Memory tip
Imagine an eye (eye-land) in the water, separate and distinct.
Word Origin
"īegland: īeg (island) + land (land)"