atollo

atoll

noun ah-TOHL-loh Rare

Origin: From Dhivehi (Maldivian) atolu, via Portuguese and English.

Usage Note

Atollo is masculine; its plural is atolli. It describes the ring-shaped coral island formation. The word entered European languages through Portuguese explorers encountering the Maldives. In Italian it remains a precise geographical term with no figurative extensions.

Examples

"L'atollo era circondato da acque cristalline."

Natural Translation

The atoll was surrounded by crystal-clear waters.

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