an island off the southern end of the US state of New York. It is about 118 miles/190 kilometres long and 12 23 miles/19 37 kilometres wide and has an area of 1 400 square miles/3 627 square kilometres. Its western end includes the New York districts of Brooklyn and Queens , and the rest of the island has small towns and holiday places where many rich people live. Its beaches are very popular. During the American Revolution , the army of General George Washington lost the Battle of Long Island (August 1776) to the British forces of Sir William Howe.
See also Long Beach .