Micronesia

[mahy-kruh-nee-zhuh, ‐shuh] /ˌmaɪ krəˈni ʒə, ‐ʃə/

noun
1.
one of the three principal divisions of Oceania, comprising the small Pacific islands N of the equator and E of the Philippines, whose main groups are the Mariana Islands, the Caroline Islands, and the Marshall Islands.
2.
Federated States of, a group of islands in the W Pacific, in the Caroline Islands, comprising the islands of Pohnpei, Truk, Yap, and Kosrae: formerly a part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; now a self-governing area associated with the U.S. 271 sq. mi. (701 sq. km).
/ˌmaɪkrəʊˈniːzɪə/
noun
1.
one of the three divisions of islands in the Pacific (the others being Melanesia and Polynesia); the NW division of Oceania: includes the Mariana, Caroline, Marshall, and Kiribati island groups, and Nauru Island
2.
Federated States of Micronesia, an island group in the W Pacific, formerly within the United States Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands: comprises the islands of Truk, Yap, Ponape, and Kosrae: formed in 1979 when the islands became self-governing: status of free association with the US from 1982. Languages: English and Micronesian languages. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: US dollar. Capital: Palikir. Pop: 106 104 (2013 est)

1840, from Italian, literally “the region of small islands,” Modern Latin, formed on model of Polynesia from micro- “small” (see micro-) + Greek nesos “island” (see Chersonese). Related: Micronesian.