noun
archipelago
ar-kuh-PEL-uh-goh/ˌɑːrkɪˈpeləɡəʊ/
A group or chain of islands.
An archipelago of rocky green islands rises from the sea.
Etymology
Italian arcipelago named the Aegean Sea. Because that sea is full of island chains, the name broadened to any sea studded with islands and then to the islands themselves.
In context
the whole archipelago of all the Canary Islands will have achieved it. The Canary Islands have made an early start in developing their own strategies for ending their dependence on oil.
More examples
- A ferry connects the largest islands in the archipelago.
- Indonesia is an archipelago with thousands of islands.
- The map shows several archipelagos in the Pacific Ocean.
Forms
archipelago · archipelagos · archipelagoes
archipelagic adjective — Relating to a group of islands.
Similar words
- island chain
- Emphasizes islands arranged in a line rather than a cluster.
- island group
- A plainer phrase for islands treated as one geographic unit.