Indian
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /ˈɪndɪən/
- US IPA: /ˈɪndiən/
- Hyphenation: In + di + an
Full definition of Indian
Adjective
Indian
- Of or relating to India or its people; or (formerly) of the East Indies. from 14th c.
- (obsolete) Eastern; Oriental.
- 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, volume 10:The morrow next apprear'd with purple hayre
Yet dropping fresh out of the Indian fount,
And bringing light into the heavens fayre .... - (dated) Of or relating to the indigenous peoples of the Americas. from 16th c.
- (North America) Of foods: made with Indian corn or maize. from 17th c.Indian bread; Indian meal
- (chess) Designating any of various chess openings now characterised by black's attempt to control the board through knights and fianchettoed bishops rather than with a central pawn advance. from 19th c.
Synonyms
- (of or or relating to India or its people) Desi
- (of or related to indigenous peoples of the Americas) Aboriginal, Amerindian, First Nations chiefly Canadian, Native
Derived terms
Related terms
Noun
Indian
(plural Indians)- A person from India. from 13th c.
- A member of one of the indigenous peoples of the Americas (generally excluding the Aleut, Inuit, Metis, or Yupik). from 16th c.
- 1819-1820, Washington Irving, S:The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon/Traits of Indian Character, We stigmatize the Indians, also, as cowardly and treacherous, because they use stratagem in warfare in preference to open force; but in this they are fully justified by their rude code of honor.
- (now rare, historical) An indigenous inhabitant of Australia, New Zealand or the Pacific islands. from 18th c.
- (UK, colloquial) A meal at (or taken away from) an Indian restaurant. from 20th c.We're going out tonight for an Indian.
Synonyms
- (person from India) Asian Indian
- (indigenous person of the Americas) Amerindian, Native American, Red Indian
- (indigenous person of the Americas) Native Canadian, First Nations person