Mal ‧ dives, the /ˈmɔːldiːvz, -dɪvz, -daɪvz/ BrE AmE [plural]
a country made up of a group of small islands in the Indian Ocean southwest of Sri Lanka, which are known for their beautiful beaches. Population: 379,174 (2008). Capital: Malé. The Maldives are threatened by the process of ↑ global warming , because the land is very flat and, if the sea level rises much, the islands could disappear.
—Maldivian /mɔːlˈdɪviən/ noun , adjective