Australia

Signification

1. An island in Oceania.
2. 1814, Matthew Flinders, A Voyage to Terra Australis, volume 1 (at Project Gutenberg)
3. A country in Oceania comprising the islands of Australia, Tasmania and other smaller islands in the Pacific Ocean, as well as its precursor colony in the British Empire. Official name: Commonwealth of Australia. Capital: Canberra.
4. A continent consisting of the islands of Australia, New Guinea and intervening islands. New Guinea and the intervening islands are also on the Australian tectonic plate and are thus geologically considered part of the continent.

Coupé comme

Aus‧tra‧lia

Prononcé comme (IPA)

/ɒˈstɹeɪl.jə/

Étymologie

First attested 16th century, from Latin terra austrālis incōgnita (“unknown southern land”), from auster (“the south wind”). Used also in 1693 (quotation below). Popularised by Matthew Flinders in 1814 (quotation below).
Distantly cognate to Austria, containing the same Proto-Indo-European root, but through German where it retained the earlier sense of “east” rather than “south”.
See also Terra Australis.

Phrases

When will there be a cloud in Australia ?

Quand y aura-t-il un nuage en Australie?

By the next night , the German ships had withdrawn , and " Australia " returned to Rosyth .

La nuit suivante, les navires allemands s'étaient retirés et "Australie" est retourné à Rosyth.