pn A group of
islands off the northwest coast of mainland
Europe, comprising
Great Britain,
Ireland, the
Isle of Wight, the
Isles of Scilly, the
Isle of Man, the
Outer Hebrides, the
Inner Hebrides, the
Orkney Islands, the
Shetland Islands and many other smaller islands. Use may include the
Channel Islands, although these are physically closer to
mainland Europe.