n.
Pronunciation: ' in-d ē - ə
Function: geographical name
1 peninsula region (often called a subcontinent) S Asia S of the Himalayas bet. Bay of Bengal & Arabian Sea occupied by India, Pakistan, & Bangladesh & formerly often considered to include Burma (but not Ceylon)
2 those parts of India until 1947 under Brit. rule or protection together with Baluchistan & the Andaman & Nicobar islands &, prior to 1937, Burma
3 country comprising major portion of peninsula; a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations; until 1947 a part of the Brit. Empire capital New Delhi area 1,195,063 sq mi (3,095,472 sq km ), pop 896,567,000