Malta

geographical name

Mal·​ta ˈmȯl-tə 

variants or ancient Melita

ˈme-lə-tə 

mə-ˈlē-tə

1

or Maltese Islands

mȯl-ˈtēz 

-ˈtēs

group of islands in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily; a republic of the Commonwealth of Nations; capital Valletta area 122 square miles (316 square kilometers), population 449,000

2

chief island of the Malta group. area 95 square miles (247 square kilometers)

see also maltese sense 1