Micronesia

Mi·cro·ne·si·a  (mkr-nzh, -sh)

A division of Oceania in the western Pacific Ocean comprising the islands east of the Philippines and north of the equator. It includes the Caroline, Marshall, Mariana, and Gilbert islands.

---

Micronesia, Federated States of A group of associated islands in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. Originally inhabited by Austronesian-speaking peoples, the islands were controlled in turn by Spain, Germany, and Japan prior to their capture by U.S. forces during World War II. The group was administered as part of the U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands after 1947 and became self-governing under a compact of free association with the United States in 1986. Palikir, on Pohnpei (Ponape) Island, is the capital. Population: 108,000.

Micronesia

---

Micronesia [ˌmaɪkrəʊˈniːzɪə]

n

1. (Placename) one of the three divisions of islands in the Pacific (the others being Melanesia and Polynesia); the NW division of Oceania: includes the Mariana, Caroline, Marshall, and Kiribati island groups, and Nauru Island

2. (Placename) Federated States of. an island group in the W Pacific, formerly within the United States Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands: comprises the islands of Truk, Yap, Ponape, and Kosrae: formed in 1979 when the islands became self-governing: status of free association with the US from 1982. Languages: English and Micronesian languages. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: US dollar. Capital: Palikir. Pop.: 118 000 (2001 est.)

[from micro- + Greek nēsos island; so called from the small size of many of the islands; on the model of Polynesia]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	Micronesia - a country scattered over Micronesia with a constitutional government in free association with the United States; achieved independence in 1986 Federated States of Micronesia, TT Micronesia - the islands in the northwestern part of Oceania Kolonia - capital of Micronesia Ladrone Islands, Mariana Islands, Marianas - a chain of coral and volcanic islands in Micronesia (including Guam and the Northern Marianas) halfway between New Guinea and Japan; discovered by Magellan in 1521 Caroline Islands - a long archipelago of more than 500 islands in Micronesia to the east of the Philippines Marshall Islands - a group of coral islands in eastern Micronesia Ellice Islands, Tuvalu - a group of coral islands in Micronesia to the southwest of Hawaii Kiribati, Republic of Kiribati - an island republic in the west central Pacific just to the south of the equator Gilbert and Ellice Islands - a former British possession in Micronesia Nauru Island, Pleasant Island, Nauru - a small island in the central Pacific Ocean 2,800 miles to the southwest of Hawaii; in Micronesia to the west of the Gilbert Islands
	2.	Micronesia - the islands in the northwestern part of Oceania Oceania, Oceanica - a large group of islands in the south Pacific including Melanesia and Micronesia and Polynesia (and sometimes Australasia and the Malay Archipelago) Austronesia - islands of central and South Pacific (Indonesia and Melanesia and Micronesia and Polynesia) Federated States of Micronesia, Micronesia, TT - a country scattered over Micronesia with a constitutional government in free association with the United States; achieved independence in 1986