subcontinent
nounUK /ˌsʌbˈkɒntɪnənt/
US /ˌsʌbˈkɑːntɪnənt/
A big piece of land that is part of a continent but looks like its own smaller continent.
India is often called a subcontinent because it is huge and separated by mountains.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A large land area that is slightly smaller than a continent.
Geographers sometimes describe Greenland as a subcontinent.
3. The part of Asia that includes India and nearby countries.
The Indian subcontinent has many different languages.
4. A big area of land that stands apart from the rest of its continent.
The subcontinent is bordered by the sea on three sides.