noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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rhymes with -aɪlənd
1
noun
Meaning 1
A raised or otherwise marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded, so as to direct the traffic flow and provide a safe place for pedestrians to wait while crossing the road.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK
Topics: road, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: safety island, pedestrian island, pedestrian refuge, refuge, refuge island
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
An area where rail traffic is low.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, rare
Topics: rail-transport, railways, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
a curbed area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded; provides safe area for pedestrians
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: safety island, safety isle, safety zone
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: island
History
Etymology
From traffic (noun) + island (noun).
Across languages
Translations
31 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
транспортен остров
(transporten ostrov)
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Catalan:
mitjana
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Chinese Mandarin:
交通島 /交通岛
(jiāotōngdǎo)
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Czech:
refýž
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Dutch:
verkeersheuvel
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Dutch:
vluchtheuvel
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Esperanto:
trafikinsulo
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Estonian:
ohutussaar
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Finnish:
liikenteenjakaja
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
French:
îlot
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
French:
îlot directionnel
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
French:
terre-plein
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
German:
Verkehrsinsel
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Icelandic:
umferðareyja
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Indonesian:
pulau jalan
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Indonesian:
pulau lalu lintas
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Irish:
oileán tráchta
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Italian:
spartitraffico
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Malay:
pulau lalu lintas
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Malay:
pulau pembahagi lalu lintas
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Manx:
purt
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Norwegian Bokmål:
trafikkøy
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Polish:
wysepka
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Romagnol:
ìșula
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Russian:
острово́к безопа́сности
(ostrovók bezopásnosti)
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Spanish:
bandejón
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Spanish:
camellón
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Spanish:
mediana
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Turkish:
orta kaldırım
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Turkish:
refüj
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
Ukrainian:
острів руху
(ostriv ruxu)
— raised or marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded
