Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A navigable sea passage: The Strait of Magellan is a natural waterway located at the southern tip of South America. It separates the mainland of South America from the Tierra del Fuego archipelago and connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Usage

• The Strait of Magellan is known for its challenging navigation due to unpredictable weather and narrow channels.
• Historically, the Strait of Magellan served as a vital maritime route before the construction of the Panama Canal.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Sailing through the Strait of Magellan was a key achievement in early global exploration.
  • The Strait of Magellan provides a more sheltered passage than the open waters of the Drake Passage.

Advanced Usage

• "to navigate the Strait of Magellan": to sail through this specific waterway, often implying a skillful or historic journey.
  • The captain skillfully navigated the Strait of Magellan despite the fog.

Variants and Related Words

• Strait (n): a narrow passage of water connecting two seas or other large bodies of water.
  • The ship entered the treacherous strait.

Synonyms

• Sea passage: a navigable route through a body of water.
• Waterway: a river, canal, or other route for travel by water.

Related Phrases

• Magellanic (adj): Pertaining to Ferdinand Magellan or the Strait of Magellan.
  • The Magellanic penguins are named after the region.

Noun

1. the strait separating South America from Tierra del Fuego and other islands to the south of the continent; discovered by Ferdinand Magellan in 1520; an important route around South America before the Panama Canal was built