| 释义 |
is·land
I. \ˈīlənd\ noun
(-s)
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: alteration (influenced by English isle) (I) of earlier iland, from Middle English, from Old English īgland; akin to Old Frisian eiland island, Old Norse eyland; all from a prehistoric North Germanic-West Germanic compound whose first constituent is represented by Old English īg, īeg island and whose second constituent is represented by Old English land; Old English īg, īeg island akin to Old English ēa river, Old High German ouwa land by water, meadow, aha river, Old Norse ey island, ā river, Gothic ahwa river, Latin aqua water — more at land
1.
a. : a tract of land surrounded by water and smaller than a continent
b. dialect : a tract of land cut off on two or more sides by water : peninsula
2. : something resembling an island by its isolated, surrounded, or sequestered position: as
a.
(1) : an elevated piece of land surrounded by swamp or alluvial land
< thousands were marooned on islands of high ground — Time >
(2) : a piece of woodland surrounded by flat open country
b. : islet 2c — compare island of reil
c.
(1) : a small isolated space between lines in a fingerprint
(2) : a lanceolate interruption in a line on the palm held to be a sign in palmistry
< when the line has an island in the center … it foretells some trouble — Alice D. Jennings >
d.
(1) : a showcase, counter, or platform standing apart and approachable on all sides
< only fast turnover items can be placed on islands — Printers' Ink >
< double built-in cooking top in an island arrangement — American Builder Catalog Directory >
(2) or island platform : a platform at a railway station that has tracks on each side of it
e.
(1) : safety island
(2) : safety zone
f. : a superstructure (as the forecastle, bridge, or poop) on the deck of an aircraft carrier or other ship
3. : a group or area isolated from its environment by specific characteristics or conditions: as
a. : an isolated ethnological group
< the Hungarian colony … is a picturesque racial island — American Guide Series: Michigan >
< there are many cultural islands in the United States — David Riesman >
b. : speech island
II. transitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
1. : to make into or as if into an island
< a clear brown stream … islanding a purple and white rock with an amber pool — John Ruskin >
2. : to dot with or as if with islands
< a fair expanse of level pasture islanded with groves — William Wordsworth >
< groups of people islanded upon the dark grass — F.D.Ommanney >
3. : to place on or as if on an island : isolate
< the great mystery in whose midst we are islanded — Arthur Symons > |