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motu

motu

9.9
A small low island often with sand and palm trees in a tropical lagoon
  • noun
  • Australian
translation icon : motu
  • The resort's private motu was ideal for snorkeling and exploring the vibrant coral reefs.
  • a small motu

Examples

  • After a short boat ride, we arrived at the secluded motu, where we could fish and swim in clear waters.

  • On the motu at Maupiti, Venus with Chinese eyes, twenty-four years old.

    Academic text (1996)
  • One held on the motu (reef island) had guests who changed into pareu or shorts before boarding canoes for the motu.

    Academic text (1994)
  • One held on the motu (reef island) had guests who changed into pareu or shorts before boarding canoes for the motu.

    Academic text (1994)
  • We spent the day relaxing on a beautiful motu, enjoying the sunshine and the sound of the waves.

Synonyms

island
vsmotu
1.0

A piece of land completely surrounded by water smaller than a continent

is a specific small, low type found in tropical lagoons
key
vsmotu
  • US
80 8.3

A small low island often with sand and surrounded by sea

is a similar low landmass but mainly found in tropical lagoons
isle
vsmotu
  • Literature
19 9.0

A small island that often appears in poems or stories

is similar in size but used for shallow tropical lagoon places
islet
vsmotu
7 6.8

A very small island often in a river or lake

is similarly very small but occurs in tropical lagoon settings
ait
vsmotu
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A small island in a river

is a low tropical lagoon landform rather than a river feature
holm
vsmotu
  • Archaic
8.9

A small island in a river or near a larger island

is a tropical, low lagoon form rather than river or coastal ones
ile
vsmotu
  • Archaic
9.9

An old word for an area of land surrounded by water

is a particular low tropical lagoon form rather than a general term

How Big

island
1.0
motu
  • Australian
9.9
islet
7 6.8
sandbar
  • US
11 2.8

Surface Forms

motu singular
motus plural

Etymology

Motu comes from Pacific languages where it means 'island' or 'islet', for example in Maori and Tongan, so a motu is a small, low island often found in a tropical lagoon.