Definition: Atoll
Etymology
Borrowed from Portuguese atol, from Dhivehi އަތޮޅު or atoḷu, possibly from Prakrit *ð‘€²ð‘€ð‘€¢ð‘€»ð‘€ž or *saṃtÄ«á¹ha, from Sanskrit *संतीरà¥à¤¥ or saṃtÄ«rtha (level ford). The traditional etymology from Persian آب‌تل or âb-tal (water-hillock) is unlikely.
Noun
atoll (plural atolls)
- 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.
Derived terms
- microatoll
Credits
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