ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sumatra

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌsuˈmɑtɹə// suma·tra

n. a large island in western Indonesia. It is known for its tropical rainforests, volcanoes, and diverse wildlife like tigers and orangutans.

n. a major island in western Indonesia, situated in the Malay Archipelago. It is the sixth-largest island in the world and is notable for its significant biodiversity and volcanic activity.


SIMPLE

Sumatra is famous for its high-quality coffee beans.

CONTEXTUAL

Many travelers visit Sumatra to see the unique wildlife in the Gunung Leuser National Park.

COMPLEX

The geological history of Sumatra is defined by its position on the Sunda Megathrust, making the island particularly susceptible to seismic activity and volcanic eruptions.

Origin

Borrowed from Indonesian Sumatera, from Sanskrit समुद्र (samudra, “sea”). Mentioned in the 11th century in Sanskrit as समुद्रभूमि (samudrabhūmi, “land of Sumatra”), gradually replacing the earlier सुवर्णद्वीप (suvarṇadvīpa).

Usage

As a proper noun referring to a specific geographical location, it is typically used without an article.

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