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insularity

 - 5 dictionary results

in⋅su⋅lar

  [in-suh-ler, ins-yuh-]
Use insularity in a Sentence
–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

Related forms:
in⋅su⋅lar⋅ism, noun
in⋅su⋅lar⋅i⋅ty, noun
in⋅su⋅lar⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To insularity
in·su·lar   (ĭn'sə-lər, ĭns'yə-)   
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.

  3. 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 © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: in·su·lar
Pronunciation: -l&r
Function: adjective
: of or relating to an island of cells or tissue (as the islets of Langerhansor the insula)
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

insular in·su·lar (ĭn'sə-lər, ĭns'yə-)
adj.
Of or being an isolated tissue or island of tissue.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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