/mair"ee an"euh, mar"-, mair'-, mar'-/ ; Sp. /mah'rddee ah"nah/
a group of 15 small islands in the Pacific, E of the Philippines: divided into Guam, a possession of the U.S., and the North Marianas, formally under U.S. trusteeship. 453 sq. mi. (1127 sq. km). Also called Marianas . Formerly, Ladrone Islands, Ladrones . Cf. North Mariana Islands .