Ireland

[ ahyuhr-luhnd ]

noun
  1. John, 1838–1918, U.S. Roman Catholic clergyman and social reformer, born in Ireland: archbishop of St. Paul, Minnesota, 1888–1918.

  2. a large western island of the British Isles, comprising Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. 32,375 sq. mi. (83,850 sq. km).: Also called Em·er·ald Isle. Latin Hi·ber·ni·a [hahy-bur-nee-uh] /haɪˈbɜr ni ə/ .

  1. Republic of Ireland. Irish Eire . a republic occupying most of the island of Ireland. 27,137 sq. mi. (70,285 sq. km). Capital: Dublin.: Formerly Irish Free State ,Eire .

  2. Heraldry. a coat of arms blazoned as follows: Azure, a harp or stringed argent.

Other words from Ireland

  • Ire·land·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for Ireland (1 of 2)

Ireland1

/ (ˈaɪələnd) /


noun
  1. an island off NW Europe: part of the British Isles, separated from Britain by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel; contains large areas of peat bog, with mountains that rise over 900 m (3000 ft) in the southwest and several large lakes. It was conquered by England in the 16th and early 17th centuries and ruled as a dependency until 1801, when it was united with Great Britain until its division in 1921 into the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland: Latin name: Hibernia

  2. Republic of Ireland, Irish Republic or Southern Ireland a republic in NW Europe occupying most of Ireland: established as the Irish Free State (a British dominion) in 1921 and declared a republic in 1949; joined the European Community (now the European Union) in 1973. Official languages: Irish (Gaelic) and English. Currency: euro. Capital: Dublin. Pop: 4 775 982 (2013 est). Area: 70 285 sq km (27 137 sq miles)

  • Gaelic name: Eire

British Dictionary definitions for Ireland (2 of 2)

Ireland2

/ (ˈaɪələnd) /


noun
  1. John (Nicholson). 1879–1962, English composer, esp of songs

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for Ireland

Ireland

Island in the Atlantic Ocean separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. It is divided into Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Notes for Ireland

It is called the “Emerald Isle” because of its lush green countryside.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.