Definition

Proper noun: * A chain of coral and volcanic islands in Micronesia: The Mariana Islands are an archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean, comprising both the U.S. territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. They are situated roughly halfway between New Guinea and Japan. The islands were historically significant as they were discovered by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Mariana Islands are known for their deep ocean trenches and rich history.
  • Tourism is a major industry for the Mariana Islands.
  • The culture of the Mariana Islands reflects a blend of indigenous Chamorro traditions and Spanish, German, Japanese, and American influences.

Advanced Usage

• "the Marianas": A common shortened form used to refer to the island chain.
  • The deepest part of the ocean, the Mariana Trench, is located near the Marianas.

Variants and Related Words

• Northern Mariana Islands (Proper noun): A specific political entity, a commonwealth in political union with the United States, comprising the northern islands of the chain (excluding Guam).
  • Saipan is the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands.
• Guam (Proper noun): The largest and southernmost island of the Mariana Islands, which is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States.
  • Guam has a strategic U.S. military base.
• Mariana Trench (Proper noun): The deepest known oceanic trench on Earth, located to the east of the Mariana Islands.
  • The Mariana Trench reaches a depth of nearly 11,000 meters.

Synonyms

• The Marianas: The common abbreviated name for the island group.
• Ladrone Islands (Historical): An archaic name given by Magellan, meaning "Islands of Thieves," which is no longer in common use.

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