island

== English == === Alternative forms === iland (obsolete) ylond, ylelond, yland (obsolete) === Etymology === From earlier iland, from Middle English iland, yland, ylond, from Old English īeġland, from Proto-West Germanic *auwjuland, from Proto-Germanic *awjōlandą (from Proto-Germanic *awjō (“island, waterland, meadow”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ekʷeh₂) + *landą (“land”), equivalent to ey +‎ land. Doublet of Öland. Cognate with Scots island, iland, yland (“island”), West Frisian eilân (“island”), Saterland Frisian Ailound (“island”), Dutch eiland (“island”), Low German Eiland (“island”), German Eiland (“island”), Swedish ö (“island”), Öland (“Sweden's second largest island”), Danish ø (“island”), Norwegian øy (“island”), øyland (“large island”), Icelandic eyland (“island”). The insertion of ⟨s⟩—a 16th century spelling modification—is due to a change in spelling to the unrelated term isle, which previously lacked s (cf. Middle English ile, yle). The re-addition was mistakenly carried over to include iland as well. Related also to German Aue (“water-meadow”), Latin aqua (“water”). More at ea. === Pronunciation === (Western) IPA(key): /ˈaɪlənd/ (Indic) IPA(key): /aj.læɳɖ/ Rhymes: -aɪlənd Hyphenation: is‧land === Noun === island (plural islands) A contiguous area of land, smaller than a continent, totally surrounded by water. (by extension, in place names) A contiguous area of land, smaller than a continent, partially surrounded by water; a peninsula; a half-island. An entity surrounded by other entities that are very different from itself. A superstructure on an aircraft carrier's deck. A traffic island. (by extension, West Midlands) A roundabout; a traffic circle. A bench, counter, etc., that is not connected to a wall or other furniture and which can be used from any side. (by extension) Ellipsis of kitchen island. (government) An unincorporated area wholly surrounded by one or more incorporated areas. (grammar) A phrase from which a wh-word cannot be extracted without yielding invalid grammar. ==== Synonyms ==== (land surrounded by water): ait, holm (an entity surrounded by other very different entities): oasis ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== archipelago insular isle islet ==== Translations ==== === Verb === island (third-person singular simple present islands, present participle islanding, simple past and past participle islanded) (transitive) To surround with water; make into an island. (transitive) To set, dot (as if) with islands. (transitive) To isolate. ==== Synonyms ==== isle ==== Translations ==== === See also === archipelago atoll cay, key continent peninsula ait, eyot, holm, braid bar crannog === Anagrams === Ladins, Lindas, ilands, Landis == Scots == === Alternative forms === iland yland === Etymology === From Old English īġland. === Pronunciation === === Noun === island (plural islands) An island.