a state of Peninsular Malaysia: consists of the island of Penang and the province Wellesley on the mainland, which first united administratively in 1798 as a British colony. Capital: George Town. Pop: 1 313 449 (2000). Area: 1030 sq km (398 sq miles)
2.
a forested island off the NW coast of Malaya, in the Strait of Malacca. Area: 293 sq km (113 sq miles)
Former name (until about 1867): Prince of Wales Island
3. another name for George Town
Penang in American English
(pɪˈnæŋ)
1.
island off the NW coast of the Malay Peninsula: 110 sq mi (285 sq km)
2.
state of Malaysia, in Peninsular Malaysia, including this island & a section of the mainland opposite it: 398 sq mi (1,031 sq km); pop. 1,142,000
3.
its capital: seaport on the NE coast of Penang Island: pop. 251,000