peninsula

[puh-nin-suh-luh, -nins-yuh-luh]

noun

1. an area of land almost completely surrounded by water except for an isthmus connecting it with the mainland.

2. the Peninsula,

   1. Spain and Portugal together; Iberian Peninsula; Iberia.

   2. a district in SE Virginia between the York and James rivers: Civil War battles.

Peninsula

¹

noun

1. short for the Iberian Peninsula

peninsula

²

/ pɪˈnɪnsjʊlə /

noun

1. a narrow strip of land projecting into a sea or lake from the mainland

peninsula

1. A piece of land that projects into a body of water and is connected with a larger landmass.

peninsula

1. A body of land enclosed on three sides by water, jutting out from a larger body of land.

Usage

The noun peninsula is sometimes confused with the adjective peninsular: the Iberian peninsula (not peninsular )

Other Word Forms

• peninsular adjective
• peninsularism noun
• peninsularity noun
• transpeninsular adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Peninsula¹

1530–40; < Latin paenīnsula, equivalent to paen- pen- + īnsula island

Word History and Origins

Origin of Peninsula¹

C16: from Latin, literally: almost an island, from paene _pene- + insula island

Example Sentences

That was a message to the US, Mr Neill says: if America wanted to really challenge them it would mean "fighting them on several potential theatres at the same time – the Korean peninsula, Taiwan Straits, and Ukraine".

From BBC

Aviant is also set to launch a similar service on the Norwegian peninsula of Nesodden - just four miles in distance from Oslo, but a 29-mile road journey.

From BBC

Two firefighters were detained by U.S. immigration authorities while responding to a wildfire on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, raising questions about federal enforcement in emergency situations.

From Salon

He later became secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, during a period when pro-Russian separatists began fighting in eastern Ukraine - and when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the annexation of the Crimea peninsula.

From BBC

Sleat Peninsula - historic lands of the Clan MacDonald - have been met with protests by some islanders concerned about how the land might be managed in the future.

From BBC