Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Catalina Island

Catalina Island

3.4
An island off the coast of California visited for its beaches and natural beauty
  • proper noun
  • /ˌkætəˈliːnə ˈaɪlənd/
translation icon : Isla Catalina
  • A ferry from Long Beach takes visitors to Catalina Island in just over an hour.

Examples

  • The clear waters around Catalina Island are perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving.

  • We spent our summer vacation exploring the beautiful coves of Catalina Island.

  • I visited Catalina Island last summer.

  • Have you ever been to Catalina Island?

  • A ferry from Long Beach takes visitors to Catalina Island in just over an hour.

  • The clear waters around Catalina Island are perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving.

  • We spent our summer vacation exploring the beautiful coves of Catalina Island.

Synonyms

Santa Catalina
vsCatalina Island
4.1

An island near the coast of southern California with beaches and tourist activities

is the same place but named in a slightly different way
Santa Catalina Island
vsCatalina Island
4.2

An island off the coast of California known for beaches, resorts, and clear water

is focused on one famous resort and its popularity rather than many

Surface Forms

Catalina Island main

Morphology

Catalina + island

Although 'Catalina' is a proper name with no lexical meaning, the construction 'Name + island' transparently signals a place type; a B1 learner who knows 'island' will readily infer that this denotes an island called Catalina. This naming pattern is cross-linguistically common, so the overall meaning (a specific island/location) is immediately comprehensible even without prior knowledge of the place.

Etymology

Catalina Island may get its name from Spanish sailors who once called the place Santa Catalina after 'Saint Catherine' when they first saw it long ago. That's why the name stayed and today the resort is still called Catalina Island.