Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • An island and overseas department of France in the Windward Islands of the West Indies. Inhabited first by Arawaks and later by Caribs, the island was visited by Columbus in 1502. It was colonized by French settlers after 1635. Fort-de-France is the capital.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun An island in the Caribbean, an overseas department of France. Official name: Department of Martinique.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an island in the eastern Caribbean in the Windward Islands; administered as an overseas region of France

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Named by Christopher Columbus after Saint Martin of Tours, possibly influenced by the native name Madinima.

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Examples

  • The journey was scheduled as follows: leave le Prêcheur in Martinique on May 21st and go back to le Prêcheur on June 1st, after stops in the Caribbean islands of Dominica, les Saintes, Guadeloupe (Basse-Terre then Grande-Terre) and Antigua.

    Global Voices in English » Caribbean: Following the path of the Caribs 2009

  • But before reaching to all these islands from le Prêcheur in Martinique, many young adults in search of a professional project and practical training participated in the creation of the Kanawa (the native name for a canoe).

    Global Voices in English » Caribbean: Following the path of the Caribs 2009

  • Also in Martinique: Torri Edwards won the women's 100 in 11.29, Damu Cherry won the 100 hurdles in 12.79, and Dee Dee Trotter won the women's 400 in 51.77.

    USATODAY.com - Davis, double threat in jumps, takes Athlete of the Week honors 2006

  • He added several inches to his personal at the Conseil General meet in Martinique with a leap of 27 feet, 5 1/4 inches, edging countrymate Brian Johnson with the best jump in the world this year.

    USATODAY.com - Davis, double threat in jumps, takes Athlete of the Week honors 2006

  • •Maurice Greene won the 100 meters at a Grand Prix II meet in Martinique in 10.03 seconds.

    USATODAY.com - Athlete of the Week: Gatlin runs the impossible 2005

  • Anti-Doping Agency after Edwards tested positive for the stimulant nikethamide in Martinique last April.

    USATODAY.com - Athens Watch: Tuesday, Aug. 17 2004

  • As an American of both French European and Caribbean descent, I felt this quilt would be a way to record a piece of history and connect my son and daughter to a people, a homeland, and a culture on a distant island in the Caribbean called Martinique.

    Quilts Are Forever Kathy Lamancusa 2002

  • As an American of both French European and Caribbean descent, I felt this quilt would be a way to record a piece of history and connect my son and daughter to a people, a homeland, and a culture on a distant island in the Caribbean called Martinique.

    Quilts Are Forever Kathy Lamancusa 2002

  • The island of Martinique, which is said to have seen the introduction of the coffee plant into the western hemisphere, does not now raise enough for its own use.

    All About Coffee 1909

  • I was quite determined to have nothing whatever to do with the kidnapping of any unfortunate blacks; and in the end they were obliged to give way, although Charpentier tried hard to dissuade me from my resolution; the result being, that immediately after I had ascertained our position at noon, we wore round and shaped a course for Martinique, that island being in a direct line with Jamaica.

    A Pirate of the Caribbees Harry Collingwood 1886

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