Words / B2

ahk-i-PEL-uh-goh/ˌɑːkɪˈpeləɡəʊ/

An archipelago is a group of islands, or a sea with many islands: an island archipelago; the Malay Archipelago. An island is a single landmass; a chain or island group is a close twin; atoll is coral. Name the archipelago on the map, then the number of islands if given. Mix-up: archipelago vs architecture; pelagic; do not write archipelago for one named island.

Meaning

A group of islands, or a sea with many islands.

Examples

• “Name the archipelago on the map, then the number of islands if given, the geography paper said.”
• “An archipelago sea featured in the shipping case, which is the water-with-islands sense — still name the strait if given.”

Good to know

an archipelago; a volcanic archipelago; the + name + Archipelago. Close: island group / chain. Contrast: a single island. Trap: architecture. Geography. A group of islands — name it and count if the paper gives a figure.

Near in meaning

island group, island chain, isles

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