land bridge

noun

1. Geology. an actual or hypothetical strip of land, subject to submergence, that connects adjacent continental landmasses and serves as a route of dispersal for plants and animals:

   a prehistoric land bridge between Asia and North America.

2. a transcontinental rail route between countries, as those in Europe and East Asia, considered faster and less costly than all-sea routes.

land bridge

noun

1. (in zoogeography) a connecting tract of land between two continents, enabling animals to pass from one continent to the other

Word History and Origins

Origin of land bridge¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

The land bridge remained until about 8,000 years ago, after the end of the last ice age, when rising sea levels eventually cut Tasmania off from the Australian mainland.

From Science Daily

During the last ice age however, Australia and Tasmania were connected by a huge land bridge, which allowed people to reach Tasmania on foot.

From Science Daily

The researchers studied ancient mud taken from islands in the Bass Strait, which is part of Tasmania today, but would have been part of the land bridge connecting Australia and Tasmania during the last ice age.

From Science Daily

At some point, however, Tehran may fear that a raging war in Lebanon would cut off its valuable land bridge to the Mediterranean Sea, a mighty incentive for keeping the conflict at bay.

From Los Angeles Times

However, once North America rejoined South America, other animals such as saber-toothed cats crossed the land bridge, which may have brought about the demise of giant rodents.

From Salon