1. ( also Manhattan Island ) the island that forms the main borough of New York City. It is 14 miles/23.5 kilometres long and 2.3 miles/3.7 kilometres wide, and is between the Hudson River and the East River. It contains many of New York’s most famous buildings, including the Empire State Building , and its streets include Broadway and Fifth Avenue . Central Park and Harlem are also in Manhattan. The island is named after a Native American people who once lived there.
2. n a US cocktail (= mixed alcoholic drink). It is made with whisky , sweet vermouth (= a type of strong wine) and usually bitters, and is served with a maraschino cherry.