Peninsula
|pe-nin-su-la|
B2
🇺🇸
/pəˈnɪn.sjə.lə/
🇬🇧
/pəˈnɪn.sjʊ.lə/
(peninsula)
land nearly surrounded by water
Etymology
Etymology Information
'peninsula' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'paeninsula,' where 'paene' meant 'almost' and 'insula' meant 'island'.
Historical Evolution
'peninsula' came into English via Medieval/Modern Latin 'paeninsula' and Middle English usage, eventually becoming the modern English word 'peninsula'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'almost an island', and this basic sense of 'land almost surrounded by water' has been retained in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a piece of land almost surrounded by water or projecting out into a body of water.
The Iberian peninsula includes Spain and Portugal.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/31 10:04