atoll

atollAn atoll is created as a coral reef builds up around an eroding volcanic island.

a·toll

A0501800 (ăt′ôl′, -ŏl′, ā′tôl′, ā′tŏl′)n. An island or chain of islets connected by a coral reef that nearly or entirely encloses a lagoon.

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[Dhivehi atholhu; probably akin to Sinhalese ätul, interior (from the interior lagoon), probably from Sanskrit *antala-, interior, variant of antara-; see en in Indo-European roots.]

atoll

(ˈætɒl; əˈtɒl) n (Physical Geography) a circular coral reef or string of coral islands surrounding a lagoon[C17: from atollon, native name in the Maldive Islands]

at•oll

(ˈæt ɔl, -ɒl, -oʊl)

n. a ring-shaped coral reef or a string of closely spaced small coral islands, enclosing or nearly enclosing a shallow lagoon. [1615–25; earlier atollon < French]

atollAn atoll develops (from left to right) when a volcanic island erodes and a ring of coral grows up around it. The depression left by the crater of an eroding volcano fills with water, forming a lagoon.

a·toll

(ăt′ôl′, ā′tôl′) A coral island forming a ring that nearly or entirely encloses a shallow lagoon.

atoll

A ring-shaped coral reef enclosing a lagoon.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

atoll - an island consisting of a circular coral reef surrounding a lagooncoral reef - a reef consisting of coral consolidated into limestone

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