island

island [ī′lənd]

n.

[< ME iland (respelled by assoc. with unrelated ISLE) < OE igland, iegland, lit., island land & ealand, lit., water land < ig, ieg, isle (akin to Ger aue, ON ey < PGmc * aujo, akin to * ahwo) & ea, water < PGmc * ahwo, water < IE * akwa > L aqua: see LAND]

1. a land mass not as large as a continent, surrounded by water

2. anything like an island in position or isolation; specif.,

a) a structure above the flight deck of an aircraft carrier containing the bridge, radar, etc.

b) a counter which stands alone as in the central area of a kitchen

c) any of the elevated areas of a service station, having a bank of gasoline pumps [a self-service island]

3. short for:

a) TRAFFIC ISLAND

b) SAFETY ISLAND: see SAFETY ZONE

4. Anat. a tissue or cluster of cells differing from surrounding tissue in formation, etc.

vt.

1. to make into or like an island; isolate

2. to intersperse with or as with islands [a prairie islanded with wooded tracts]