Ma·gel·lan (m -j l n), Ferdinand 1480?-1521. Portuguese navigator. While trying to find a western route to the Moluccas (1519), Magellan and his expedition were blown by storms into the strait that now bears his name (1520). He named and sailed across the Pacific Ocean, reaching the Marianas and the Philippines (1521), where he was killed fighting for a friendly native king. One of his ships returned to Spain (1522), thereby completing the first circumnavigation of the globe. |
| Magellan, Strait of A channel separating South America from Tierra del Fuego and other islands south of the continent and connecting the southern Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Ferdinand Magellan sailed through the strait in October and November 1520. |
Magellan [məˈgɛlən]
n
(Placename) Strait of. a strait between the mainland of S South America and Tierra del Fuego, linking the S Pacific with the S Atlantic. Length: 600 km (370 miles). Width: up to 32 km (20 miles)
Magellan2
n
(Biographies / Magellan, Ferdinand (?1480-1521) M, Portuguese, TRAVEL AND EXPLORATION: navigator) Ferdinand. Portuguese name Fernão de Magalhães. ?1480- 1521, Portuguese navigator in the service of Spain. He commanded an expedition of five ships that set out to sail to the East Indies via the West. He discovered the Strait of Magellan (1520), crossed the Pacific, and reached the Philippines (1521), where he was killed by natives. One of his ships reached Spain (1522) and was therefore the first to circumnavigate the world
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| Noun | 1. |  Magellan - Portuguese navigator in the service of Spain; he commanded an expedition that was the first to circumnavigate the world (1480-1521) |
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