mainland
Other forms: mainlands
A mainland is the land covering a continent, as opposed to islands off its coast. When you take the ferry back after visiting Block Island, you can say you're "returning to the mainland."
The rocky coast of the mainland might make for a difficult landing in your rowboat — or you might enter a race that requires you to swim from the mainland to a tiny island and back. You could also refer to "mainland United States" to distinguish it from the island state of Hawaii, and its residents might even call you a mainlander when you vacation there.
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the main land mass of a country or continent; as distinguished from an island or peninsulaexamples:Continentthe European mainlandtype of:
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Vocabulary lists containing mainland
Study this list to review the land features, natural resources, and political structures of countries in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Learn about flora such as lemongrass and mangrove, fauna such as the pangolin and the tapir, and weather events like cyclones and typhoons.
If you have a yen to learn more about East Asia, review this list of essential vocabulary. You'll explore the climate, land features, political structures, and religious traditions of countries like China, Japan, and North and South Korea. You don't have to be a samurai to conquer this list.
If you have a yen to learn more about East Asia, review this list of essential vocabulary. You'll explore the climate, land features, political structures, and religious traditions of countries like China, Japan, and North and South Korea. You don't have to be a samurai to conquer this list.