island
island — noun
1. an area of land that has water all around it and is not joined to the mainland
an area of land that has water all around it and is not joined to the mainland
Sana spent her summer vacation on a small island off the coast of Thailand.
collocation: small island / remote island
The ferry carries passengers and cars between the mainland and the island twice a day.
contrast: mainland vs island
During low tide, visitors can walk across the sand to reach the island without a boat.
That remote island in the Pacific Ocean is home to seabirds that nest on its rocky cliffs each spring.
- mainland
the large continuous landmass of a continent or country, as opposed to offshore islands
文法句型
[adjective] island
the island of [name]
常見錯誤
2. a freestanding cabinet with a flat top for food preparation, positioned in a kit
a freestanding cabinet with a flat top for food preparation, positioned in a kitchen so that you can approach it from any side.
Élise set a fruit bowl on the kitchen island before her dinner guests arrived.
collocation: kitchen island
The island has drawers underneath for storing pots, pans, and kitchen towels.
parts of the island: drawers underneath / worktop above
Lakshmi prepared the vegetables on the island while her husband cooked at the stove.
Femi sat on a tall stool at the kitchen island and ate his breakfast before heading to work.
文法句型
kitchen island
3. a raised or painted zone built into a roadway where someone crossing the street
a raised or painted zone built into a roadway where someone crossing the street can pause safely until oncoming cars have gone past.
Caleb waited on the traffic island while cars passed on both sides of the road.
collocation: traffic island
The city built a pedestrian island in the middle of the busy four-lane street.
pattern: [noun] island — pedestrian island / traffic island
Mrs. Chen paused on the concrete traffic island halfway across the six-lane road, waiting for the cars to pass.
The traffic island had a small sign warning drivers about the pedestrian crossing ahead.
- pedestrian island
more specific, naming the user of the island
- refuge island
British English term emphasizing safety
- median strip
different structure — a long divider, not a place for pedestrians to wait
文法句型
traffic island
pedestrian island
用法筆記
Also called a 'pedestrian island' or 'refuge island'. More common in British English than American English, where 'median strip' or 'center divider' is used for the central area of a road.
常見錯誤
4. a circular road junction where traffic moves in one direction around a central a
a circular road junction where traffic moves in one direction around a central area, allowing vehicles from several roads to merge and exit safely.
When you reach the island at the end of the high street, take the third exit towards the supermarket.
UK usage: island = roundabout
Liam slowed down at the island and checked for cars coming from his right.
The local council planted flowers in the middle of the island to make the junction look more attractive.
João took the wrong exit at the island and had to drive an extra three miles.
- roundabout
the standard term across all varieties of English
- traffic circle
American English term for a similar junction
用法筆記
This sense is primarily British English. In most other varieties, 'roundabout' is the standard term and 'island' is not used this way.
常見錯誤
5. a place, area, or situation that feels calm, safe, or different from the busier
a place, area, or situation that feels calm, safe, or different from the busier or more difficult surroundings around it.
The small park was an island of peace in the middle of the noisy city.
pattern: an island of [peace / calm / quiet]
The library became an island of quiet where students could escape the crowded hallways.
This café is an island of calm — traffic noise vanishes the moment you step inside.
For older residents, the community garden was an island of beauty in a changing area.
文法句型
an island of [noun]
用法筆記
Always followed by 'of' and an abstract noun describing the positive quality (peace, calm, quiet, sanity, beauty). The surrounding context is typically negative or chaotic.
island — verb
1. to surround something with water or another barrier so that it becomes separated
to surround something with water or another barrier so that it becomes separated from what was around it, like a piece of land cut off by rising water.
The low-lying farmland was islanded by floodwaters after the river burst its banks.
passive: be islanded by [water/barrier]
A severe blizzard islanded the remote mountain village, cutting off all road access for nearly a week.
The new bypass completely islanded the old quarter from the rest of the town.
Rising sea levels have gradually islanded the coastal communities most at risk from erosion.
- connect
to join or link things together
文法句型
be islanded by [noun]
island [noun] from [noun]
用法筆記
Primarily used in passive constructions or in literary/formal writing. The more common everyday verb is 'isolate' or 'cut off'.
2. to cover or mark a surface with separate objects or areas that stand alone, scat
to cover or mark a surface with separate objects or areas that stand alone, scattered here and there like small islands.
The lake was islanded with small patches of bright green where the water was only a few inches deep.
pattern: be islanded with [scattered objects]
The worn carpet was islanded with faded circles where heavy furniture had stood for decades.
Ancient olive trees islanded the hillside, creating a patchwork of silver-green against the dry earth.
Shallow pools of rainwater islanded the garden path after the heavy afternoon storm.
文法句型
be islanded with [noun]
用法筆記
A literary construction. The pattern 'be islanded with [plural noun]' describes a surface or area dotted with distinct features.
3. to keep a person, group, or thing apart from others so that no contact or commun
to keep a person, group, or thing apart from others so that no contact or communication takes place.
The hospital islanded the patient with the rare infection to prevent the disease from spreading.
pattern: island [person] — keep apart
International sanctions islanded the small nation, cutting off its trade with neighbouring countries.
The rebellious faction was islanded from the rest of the tribe after the leadership dispute.
Strict traditions and a unique dialect islanded the remote community from the outside world.
- isolate
the standard, more common verb for all registers
- quarantine
specific to preventing spread of disease
- cut off
phrasal verb, common in speech
- integrate
to bring people into a group or community
文法句型
island [noun]
be islanded from [noun]
用法筆記
Much less common than 'isolate' in everyday English. 'Isolate' is the standard verb; 'island' in this sense appears mainly in literary or formal texts.