isle

[ ahyl ]

noun

1. a small island.
2. any island.

verb (used with object)

, isled, isl·ing.

1. to make into or as if into an isle.
2. to place on or as if on an isle.

isle

/ aɪl /

noun

1. an island, esp a small one: used in literature and (when cap.) in place names

Other Words From

• isleless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of isle¹

1250–1300; Middle English i ( s ) le < Old French < Latin īnsula

Word History and Origins

Origin of isle¹

C13: from Old French isle, from Latin insula island

Example Sentences

About 125 million years ago, herds of inguanodontians browsed in a conifer-filled river valley in what is now the Isle of Wight, off of southern England.

From Popular-Science

This gin is made with 22 hand-foraged ­botanicals from the Scottish Isle of Islay, nine berries, and an array of barks and peels.

From Outside Online

According to Gostling, the Isle of Wight is the best place in Europe to find dinosaur fossils, and one of the top ten places in the world, partially because the isle is eroding.

From Popular-Science

The isle later became known as “Rat Island”, named for the abundant rat population that soon took over.

From Popular-Science

A few lines of text describe a darkness spreading over the world emanating from a distant isle where the realm of spirits and men mingle.

From Washington Post

Regardless, that goes double for a hippy isle full of expats and pungent pot known as Bocas del Toro.

From The Daily Beast

Yet another example is Belle Isle, a gorgeous 982-acre gem floating in the Detroit River.

From The Daily Beast

Diana found to have Irish ancestry - so will William, Kate and baby George now visit the Emerald Isle?

From The Daily Beast

Lest you forget our planet has a molten core, this volatile Italian isle will set you straight.

From The Daily Beast

He was living on his own in a comfortable apartment on the Isle St Louis.

From The Daily Beast

He and his wife seated themselves at table one Tuesday evening, a few weeks after their return from Grand Isle.

From Project Gutenberg

Monsieur Ratignolle was delighted to see her, though he found her looking not so well as at Grand Isle, and he advised a tonic.

From Project Gutenberg

One afternoon early in the year 1889 two gentlemen from the Isle of Man called upon me at my office.

From Project Gutenberg

Edna was sobbing, just as she had wept one midnight at Grand Isle when strange, new voices awoke in her.

From Project Gutenberg

On rainy or melancholy days Edna went out and sought the society of the friends she had made at Grand Isle.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• archipelago
• enclave
• islet
• peninsula
• reef