Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » Australia

Australia

The definition of Australia is the name of one of the seven continents of the world and includes the countries of Australia, New Guinea, the Aru Islands, and the Raja Ampat Islands.

(noun)

A continent that is in the southern hemisphere and located southwest of Asia is an example of Australia.
A large country located east of the Indian Ocean and southwestern of the Pacific Ocean that includes Tasmania is an example of Australia.

See Australia in Webster's New World College Dictionary

island continent in the Southern Hemisphere between the S Pacific and Indian oceans
country comprising this continent and Tasmania: a member of the Commonwealth: 2,970,000 sq mi (7,682,000 sq km); pop. 16,800,000; cap. Canberra
official name Commonwealth of Australia

Origin: ModL < L (terra) australis, southern (land): see austral

See Australia in American Heritage Dictionary 4

The world's smallest continent, southeast of Asia between the Pacific and Indian oceans.
A commonwealth comprising the continent of Australia, the island state of Tasmania, two external territories, and several dependencies. The first British settlement, a penal colony at Port Jackson (now part of Sydney), was established in 1788. The present-day states grew as separate colonies; six of them formed a federation in 1901. In 1911 Northern Territory joined the commonwealth and the Capital Territory, site of Canberra, was created. Canberra is the capital and Sydney is the largest city. Population: 20,400,000.

(click for a larger image)