Surtsey

American  

[surt-see, soort-sey] / ˈsɜrt si, ˈsʊərt seɪ /

noun

1. an island south of and belonging to Iceland: formed by an undersea volcano 1963. About one mile (1.5 kilometers) in diameter; about 500 feet (150 meters) high.

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Etymology

Origin of Surtsey

First recorded in 1960–65; from Icelandic; literally, “Surt's Island,” equivalent to Surt-, a proper name + -s, genitive singular noun ending + ey “island”; see origin at Surt ( def. ), island ( def. )

Example Sentences

When the volcanic island of Surtsey emerged from the North Atlantic Ocean in 1963, it presented scientists with a rare natural experiment: a chance to watch life begin on untouched land.

From Science Daily • Nov. 4, 2025

This becomes evident at the start of the book, when he visits the island of Surtsey off the coast of Iceland.

From Scientific American • Oct. 19, 2023

This includes Surtseyan eruptions, named after Surtsey, a volcano off the Icelandic coast that explosively grew above the waves in the 1960s until it formed a new island.

From New York Times • Sep. 11, 2021

Roth's Surtsey prints have never, to my knowledge, been shown in Britain before.

From The Guardian • Jul. 31, 2010

"Volcano: Birth of an Island" presents stunning scenes of lava erupting from beneath the sea to form the island Surtsey, off the coast of Iceland.

From Time Magazine Archive