[ ˌɒstrə(ʊ)'ni:zɪən , -ʒ(ə)n , ˌɔ:- ]
■ adjective relating to or denoting a family of languages spoken in an area extending from Madagascar in the west to the Pacific islands in the east.
■ noun the ~ family of languages.
Origin
from Ger. austronesisch , based on L. australis (see austral ) + Gk nēsos 'island'.