Definition

Proper noun * The Mariana Islands: A chain of coral and volcanic islands in the western Pacific Ocean, in Micronesia. The chain includes Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. The islands are situated roughly halfway between New Guinea and Japan.

Usage Notes

• Historical Term: "Ladrone Islands" is an archaic, historical name for the Mariana Islands. It is derived from the Spanish "Islas de los Ladrones," meaning "Islands of Thieves," a name given by Ferdinand Magellan's expedition in 1521. The term is considered outdated and potentially pejorative. The modern and correct name is the Mariana Islands.
• Modern Context: In contemporary English, this term is primarily encountered in historical texts, accounts of early exploration, or discussions of colonial history. It is not used in modern geographical or political contexts.

Examples

• Historical Reference:
  • Ferdinand Magellan first encountered the Ladrone Islands in 1521 during his circumnavigation of the globe.
  • The 18th-century map labeled the archipelago as the Ladrone Islands.

Advanced Usage

• In Historical Analysis: The term is used to discuss the period of first European contact and the subsequent Spanish colonization of the Pacific.
  • The renaming of the Ladrone Islands to the Mariana Islands in the 17th century reflected a shift in Spanish colonial policy.

Variants and Related Words

• Mariana Islands (n): The modern name for the archipelago.
• Guam (n): The largest and southernmost island of the Marianas, a U.S. territory.
• Northern Mariana Islands (n): A U.S. commonwealth consisting of the northern islands in the chain (excluding Guam).

Synonyms

• Mariana Islands (modern synonym)
• Marianas (common short form)

Important Note

This entry explains the historical term "Ladrone Islands." For current information about the geography, people, or politics of this region, please see the entry for Mariana Islands.

Noun

1. a chain of coral and volcanic islands in Micronesia (including Guam and the Northern Marianas) halfway between New Guinea and Japan; discovered by Magellan in 1521