What part of speech is “atoll”
Noun
Definition:
an atoll is a circular or horseshoe-shaped island, consisting of a coral reef surrounding a central lagoon. The word is derived from a Maldivian word meaning 'island'. An atoll may be part of an archipelago as well, which is a group of smaller islands. Atolls are typically found in the tropical climates and oceans.
Rules:
atolls exist mostly in tropical parts of the world, typically near the equator. When referring to an atoll, there is usually a word or two going before it to refer to the type of atoll that it is. For example, one may refer to a coral atoll, or fringing atoll. When describing the atoll, the words 'circular,' 'horseshoe-shaped,' and 'central lagoon' are used.
Examples:
On our vacation, we visited a Caribbean coral atoll that was beautiful and peaceful.
When my family moved, I remembered fondly the many hours we spent at our favorite fringing atolls.
We decided to rent kayaks and take a tour around the horseshoe-shaped atoll.
Tips:
when talking about atolls in a general sense, do not refer to them as 'islands,' as this is an inaccurate description and implies that the landmass is not a lagoon surrounded by a coral reef as is a typical atoll.