Magellan

UK: /məˈɡɛlən/ US: (mə jel′ən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

Ma•gel•lan  (mə jel′ən), n. 

1. Biographical Ferdinand, c1480–1521, Portuguese navigator: discoverer of the Straits of Magellan 1520 and the Philippines 1521.
2. Place Names Strait of, a strait near the S tip of South America between the mainland of Chile and Tierra del Fuego and other islands, connecting the Atlantic and the Pacific. 360 mi. (580 km) long; 2½–17 mi. (4–27 km) wide.

Mag•el•lan•ic  (maj′ə lan′ik), adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Magellan / məˈɡɛlən/ noun

1. Strait of Magellan ⇒ a strait between the mainland of S South America and Tierra del Fuego, linking the S Pacific with the S Atlantic. Length: 600 km (370 miles). Width: up to 32 km (20 miles)

Magellan / məˈɡɛlən/ noun

1. Ferdinand. Portuguese name Fernão de Magalhães. ?1480–1521, Portuguese navigator in the service of Spain. He commanded an expedition of five ships that set out to sail to the East Indies via the West. He discovered the Strait of Magellan (1520), crossed the Pacific, and reached the Philippines (1521), where he was killed by natives. One of his ships reached Spain (1522) and was therefore the first to circumnavigate the world