one of the Society Islands, in the South Pacific: 402 sq mi (1,041 sq km); pop. 116,000; chief town, Papeete
See Tahiti in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(tə-hēˈtē)
An island of the southern Pacific Ocean in the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It was first settled by Polynesians in the 14th century. Gaugin's best-known works were painted here.