Sumatra

[ soo-mah-truh ]

noun

1. a large island in the W part of Indonesia. 164,147 sq. mi. (425,141 sq. km).

Sumatra

/ sʊˈmɑːtrə /

noun

1. a mountainous island in W Indonesia, in the Greater Sunda Islands, separated from the Malay Peninsula by the Strait of Malacca: Dutch control began in the 16th century; joined Indonesia in 1945. Northern coastal areas, esp Aceh province, suffered devastation as a result of the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004. Pop: 42 409 510 (2000). Area: 473 606 sq km (182 821 sq miles) Indonesian spelllingSumatera

Sumatra

1. Island in Indonesia in the Indian Ocean northwest of Java and west of Malaysia .

Notes

Though much of the island is covered by swampland and impenetrable rain forest, Sumatra's industries — including oil, coal, gold, silver, rubber, timber, and tobacco — produce over half of Indonesia's income .

Other Words From

• Su·matran adjective noun

Example Sentences

Due to the generally low and unstable productivity of fruits in Borneo's tropical forests compared to Sumatra Island, fruits alone may not be the sole source of food for all four civet species.

From Science Daily

The international research team established 52 tree islands of varying sizes and diversity of planted trees in a conventional industrial oil palm plantation in Sumatra, Indonesia.

From Science Daily

Flash flooding and torrents of cold lava and mud flowing down a volcano’s slopes on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island caused dozens of deaths.

From Seattle Times

The deluge tore through mountainside villages in four districts in West Sumatra province just before midnight on Saturday.

From Seattle Times

The deluge tore through mountainside villages in four districts in West Sumatra province just before midnight Saturday.

From Seattle Times