Island meaning : A contiguous area of land, smaller than a continent, totally surrounded by water. An entity surrounded by other entities that are very different from itself. A superstructure on an aircraft carrier's deck. A traffic island. An unincorporated area wholly surrounded by one or more incorporated areas. (grammar) A phrase from which a wh-word cannot be extracted without yielding invalid grammar. To surround with water; make into an island. To set, dot (as if) with islands. To isolate.