isthmus
part of speech
noun (an isthmus, isthmuses)
meaning for a pupil
1) (geography) A narrow strip of land with sea on both sides that joins two larger pieces of land. tree →
2) (science) A narrow part joining two bigger parts in the body or in a plant. tree →
sense in the lessons
In geography lessons pupils learn the Isthmus of Panama (joining North and South America, cut by the Panama Canal), the Isthmus of Suez and the Isthmus of Corinth; New Zealand's Auckland stands on an isthmus. It is the opposite idea of a strait (narrow sea joining two seas). Phrases: the Isthmus of Panama, a narrow isthmus.
examples
- The Isthmus of Panama joins North America and South America. tree →
- Auckland is built on a narrow isthmus. tree →
- A canal was dug across the isthmus so ships could pass. tree →
- On the map, the isthmus looks like a thin bridge of land. tree →
- The castle stood at the end of a rocky isthmus. tree →
- At high tide the isthmus almost disappears under the waves. tree →
- An isthmus joins two lands; a strait joins two seas. tree →
- At the isthmus of Corinth he was opposed by Atreus, the son of Pelops, who at the death of Eurystheus had inherited the kingdom. tree →
note
Countable: an isthmus, isthmuses (rarely isthmi). Pronounced IS-mus — the «th» is silent in most accents. Trap: do not confuse with «peninsula» (land almost surrounded by water) or «strait» (narrow strip of water).
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «isthmus» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.