Austronesian

/ˈɔstroʊˌniʒən/

Other forms: Austronesians

Definitions of Austronesian

1. noun

   the family of languages spoken in Australia and Formosa and Malaysia and Polynesia
   synonyms: Austronesian language

   types:

   Malayo-Polynesian, Polynesian

   the branch of the Austronesian languages spoken from Madagascar to the central Pacific

   Aboriginal Australian, Australian

   the Austronesian languages spoken by Australian aborigines

   Formosan

   the Austronesian languages spoken on Formosa

   Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic

   an eastern subfamily of Malayo-Polynesian languages

   Tongan

   the Polynesian language spoken by the Tongan people

   Western Malayo-Polynesian

   a western subfamily of Malayo-Polynesian languages

   Dyirbal, Jirrbal

   a language of Australian aborigines

   Walbiri, Warlpiri

   a language of Australian aborigines

   Atayalic, Tayalic

   a language spoken by a Malaysian people on Formosa

   Tsouic

   a Formosan language

   Paiwanic

   a Formosan language

   type of:

   natural language, tongue

   a human written or spoken language used by a community; opposed to e.g. a computer language
2. noun

   a native or inhabitant of Austronesia
   types:

   Nauruan

   a native or inhabitant of Nauru

   Polynesian

   a native or inhabitant of Polynesia

   Fijian

   a native or inhabitant of Fiji

   Samoan

   a native or inhabitant of the Samoan Islands

   Tahitian

   a native or inhabitant of Tahiti

   Tongan

   a Polynesian native or inhabitant of Tonga

   type of:

   denizen, dweller, habitant, indweller, inhabitant

   a person who inhabits a particular place
3. adjective

   of or relating to or characteristic of Austronesia or its people or culture