Balearic Islands

Bal·e·ar·ic Islands

B0040000 (băl′ē-ăr′ĭk) An archipelago in the western Mediterranean Sea off the eastern coast of Spain. Noted for their scenery and mild climate, the islands are a major tourist center.

Balearic Islands

(ˌbælɪˈærɪk) or

Balearics

pl n (Placename) a group of islands in the W Mediterranean, consisting of Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza, Formentera, Cabrera, and 11 islets: a province of Spain. Capital: Palma, on Majorca. Pop: 1 071 500 (2003 est). Area: 5012 sq km (1935 sq miles). Spanish name: Baleares

Bal•e•ar′ic Is′lands

(ˌbæl iˈær ɪk)
n.pl. a group of islands including Ibiza, Majorca, and Minorca, and constituting a province of Spain in the W Mediterranean Sea. 754,777; 1936 sq. mi. (5015 sq. km).Cap.: Palma. Spanish, Ba•le•a•res (ˌbɑ lɛˈɑ rɛs)

Thesaurus

Noun

Balearic Islands - an archipelago in the western Mediterranean off the eastern coast of SpainEspana, Kingdom of Spain, Spain - a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial powerMajorca - the largest of the Balearic Islands

Translations

Balearic Islands

(bălēăr`ĭk), Span. Baleares (bälāä`rās), archipelago, off Spain, in the W Mediterranean, forming Baleares prov. (1990 pop. 767,918) of Spain; also an autonomous community since 1983. Palma is the capital. The chief islands are Majorca, Minorca, and Ibiza. Noted for their scenery and their mild climate, the Balearics are a major tourist destination. After tourism, agriculture and fishing are the chief economic activities; fruit, wine, olive oil, majolica ware, and silver filigree are exported. Both Catalan and Castilian Spanish are spoken. Inhabited since prehistoric times—there are numerous Cyclopean remains—the islands were occupied by Iberians, Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, and Byzantines. The Moors, who first came in the 8th cent., established (11th cent.) an independent kingdom, which became the seat of powerful pirates, harassing Mediterranean coastal cities and trade. James I of Aragón conquered (1229–35) the islands. They were included (1276–1343) in the independent kingdom of Majorca and reverted to the Aragonese crown under Peter IV. At the outbreak of the Spanish civil war (1936), Majorca and Ibiza were seized by Insurgent forces—Majorca becoming a base of the Italian fleet—while Minorca remained in the hands of the Loyalists until 1939.

Balearic Islands

Bal·e·ar·ic Islands

Balearic Islands

Balearics

Bal•e•ar′ic Is′lands

Balearic Islands

Balearic Islands

Balearic Islands

Words related to Balearic Islands

noun an archipelago in the western Mediterranean off the eastern coast of Spain

Related Words