Definition of: Philippine Islands

(fil′ə·pēn)
An archipelago of 7,083 islands SE of China and NE of Borneo; 114,830 square miles; ceded by Spain to the United States, 1898, for $20,000,-000; a commonwealth since 1935; seized by Japan, 1942–44, in World War II; since 1946 the Republic of the Philippines; capital, Quezon City. Also Phil′ip·pines. A native of the Philippines is known as a Filipino.
—Phil′ip·pine adjective