Pronunciation: r ē - ' yü-( ˌ )kyü, -( ˌ )kü
Function: geographical name
islands W Pacific extending bet. Kyushu, Japan, & Taiwan; belonged to Japan 1895-1945; occupied by U.S. 1945; returned to Japan in 1953 (N islands) and 1972 (S islands) area ab 850 sq mi (2202 sq km ), pop 1,222,458 ― see AMAMI , OKINAWA , OSUMI ISLANDS , SAKISHIMA ISLANDS , TOKARA ISLANDS
– Ryu · kyu · an \ - ˌ kyü- ə n, - ˌ kü- \ adjective or noun