Definition

Proper noun: - A major island group in the Caribbean Sea: The Greater Antilles is a geographical term for the largest islands in the northern part of the Caribbean Sea, forming the northwestern boundary of the region. This group constitutes the majority of the land area of the West Indies.

Usage

The term "Greater Antilles" is used as a proper noun to refer to the specific island group collectively. It is typically preceded by the definite article "the." - Cuba is the largest island in the Greater Antilles. - The Greater Antilles include Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.

Advanced Usage

• In geographical or historical contexts: The term is used to distinguish this larger island group from the smaller islands of the Lesser Antilles, which form an arc to the southeast.
  • The Spanish focused their early colonial efforts on the Greater Antilles.

Variants and Related Words

• Antilles (proper noun): The broader archipelago that includes both the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles.
• Lesser Antilles (proper noun): The smaller islands southeast of the Greater Antilles.

Synonyms

• Greater Antilles island group: A more descriptive synonym.
• The main Caribbean islands: An informal descriptive phrase.

Related Terms (Not Phrasal Verbs or Idioms)

• West Indies: The entire archipelago between North and South America, which includes the Antilles and the Bahamas.
• Caribbean: Pertaining to the Caribbean Sea and its islands, including the Greater Antilles.

Noun

1. a group of islands in the western West Indies