INDIAN


Meaning of INDIAN in English

■ noun

1》 a native or national of India, or a person of ~ descent.

2》 an American ~.

■ adjective

1》 relating to India.

2》 relating to the indigenous peoples of America.

Derivatives

~ism noun

~ization or ~isation noun

~ize or ~ise verb

~ness noun

Usage

American native peoples were called ~ as a result of Christopher Columbus and others believing that, when they reached the east coast of America, they had reached part of India by a new route. The terms ~ and Red ~ are today regarded as old-fashioned, recalling, as they do, the stereotypical portraits of the Wild West. The term American ~ , however, is well established.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.