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Glite Dictionary
🏝️ Caribbean islands 💼 Offshore finance
British Virgin Islands

British Virgin Islands

3.2
A group of islands in the Caribbean Sea that are a British territory with beaches and towns
  • proper noun
translation icon : Islas Vírgenes Británicas
  • The hurricane caused significant damage to the British Virgin Islands in 2017.

Examples

  • She relocated her business headquarters to the British Virgin Islands for tax purposes.

  • The British Virgin Islands are known for their stunning scenery and crystal-clear waters.

  • Many tourists visit the British Virgin Islands each year for their pristine beaches and sailing opportunities.

  • The British Virgin Islands are known for their stunning beaches.

  • Have you ever visited the British Virgin Islands?

  • Many tourists visit the British Virgin Islands each year to enjoy the beautiful beaches.

  • Sailing around the British Virgin Islands is a popular activity for vacationers in the Caribbean.

Surface Forms

British Virgin Islands main

Morphology

British + Virgin + island

The phrase is compositionally transparent as a place name: a B1 learner who knows 'British' and 'islands' can infer it refers to an island group associated with Britain. However, the specialized sense in the given definition — referring to its legal/regulatory jurisdiction and role as an offshore financial centre — requires specific world knowledge and is not predictable from the constituents alone.

Etymology

British Virgin Islands got their name from early sailors; one popular story says they called the group the Virgin Islands after Saint Ursula and her many virgins. The word British was later added to show the islands 'belong to Britain', so today the name means the British territory in the Caribbean.