insular definition | Dictionary.com

Synonyms

back, isolated, lonely, lonesome, obscure, outlying, out-of-the-way, removed, secluded, solitary, limited, narrow

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insular - 6 dictionary results

in⋅su⋅lar

[in-suh-ler, ins-yuh-]

–adjective

1.	of or pertaining to an island or islands: insular possessions.

2.	dwelling or situated on an island.

3.	forming an island: insular rocks.

4.	detached; standing alone; isolated.

5.	of, pertaining to, or characteristic of islanders.

6.	narrow-minded or illiberal; provincial: insular attitudes toward foreigners.

7.	Pathology. occurring in or characterized by one or more isolated spots, patches, or the like.

8.	Anatomy. pertaining to an island of cells or tissue, as the islets of Langerhans.

–noun

9.	an inhabitant of an island; islander.

Origin:
1605–15; < LL insulāris. See insula, -ar ¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Language Translation for : insular

Spanish:

insular,

German:

Insel-…,

Japanese:

島の

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in·su·lar (ĭn'sə-lər, ĭns'yə-) Pronunciation Key
adj.

1. Of, relating to, or constituting an island.
2. Living or located on an island.
3. Suggestive of the isolated life of an island: "He is an exceedingly insular man, so deeply private as to seem inaccessible to the scrutiny of a novelist" (Leonard Michaels).
4. Circumscribed and detached in outlook and experience; narrow or provincial.
1. Suggestive of the isolated life of an island: "He is an exceedingly insular man, so deeply private as to seem inaccessible to the scrutiny of a novelist" (Leonard Michaels).
2. Circumscribed and detached in outlook and experience; narrow or provincial.
Anatomy Of or relating to isolated tissue or an island of tissue.

[French insulaire, from Late Latin īnsulāris, from Latin īnsula, island.]

in'su·lar·ism, in'su·lar'i·ty (-lār'ĭ-tē) n., in'su·lar·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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insular

1611, "of or pertaining to an island," from L.L. insularis, from L. insula "island" (see isle). Metaphoric sense "narrow, prejudiced" is 1775, from notion of being cut off from intercourse with other nations, probably with ref. to the situation of Great Britain.

insular
adjective
1.	relating to or characteristic of or situated on an island; "insular territories"; "Hawaii's insular culture"
2.	suggestive of the isolated life of an island; "an exceedingly insular man; so deeply private as to seem inaccessible to the scrutiny of a novelist"- Leonard Michaels
3.	narrowly restricted in outlook or scope; "little sympathy with parochial mentality"; "insular attitudes toward foreigners"