atoll

Satellite picture of the Atafu atoll in Tokelau in the Pacific Ocean

Meaning

Noun

  • a type of island consisting of a ribbon reef that nearly or entirely surrounds a lagoon and supports, in most cases, one to many islets on the reef platform. Atolls have a unique geology, so not all islands with a reef and a lagoon are atolls

Origin

  • From Portuguese atol, from Malayalam അതൊലു ("reef") and Dhivehi އަތޮޅު, from Persian آب‌تل ("water-hillock")

Modern English dictionary

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