/fil"euh peenz', fil'euh peenz"/ , n. ( used with a pl. v. )
an archipelago of 7083 islands in the Pacific, SE of China: formerly (1898-1946) under the guardianship of the U.S.; now an independent republic. 76,103,564; 114,830 sq. mi. (297,410 sq. km). Cap.: Manila. Also called Philippine Islands . Formerly (1935-46), Commonwealth of the Philippines . Official name, Republic of the Philippines .