island

 
Pronunciation: /ˈʌɪlənd/

noun

  • 1a piece of land surrounded by water: the island of Crete [as modifier]: this island nation
  • 2a thing regarded as resembling an island, especially in being isolated, detached, or surrounded in some way: the university is the last island of democracy in this country
  • a traffic island.
  • a free-standing kitchen unit with a worktop, allowing access from all sides.
  • 3 Anatomy a detached portion of tissue or group of cells. Compare with islet.

Origin:

Old English īegland, from īeg 'island' (from a base meaning 'watery, watered') + land. The change in the spelling of the first syllable in the 16th century was due to association with the unrelated word isle