several groups of islands between the south coast of the US and the north coast of South America, forming a line which encloses the Caribbean Sea. There are about 1 200 islands in all. They include Cuba, Jamaica , Hispaniola, Puerto Rico , Dominica , St Lucia , Barbados , Grenada , and Trinidad and Tobago . Many of the islands in the West Indies formerly belonged to Britain and are now members of the Commonwealth .
► West Indian adj , n .