a state of Peninsular Malaysia: consists of the island of Penang and the province Wellesley on the mainland, which first united administratively in 1798 as a British colony. Capital: George Town. Pop: 1 313 449 (2000). Area: 1030 sq km (398 sq miles)
2.
a forested island off the NW coast of Malaya, in the Strait of Malacca. Area: 293 sq km (113 sq miles)
Former name (until about 1867): Prince of Wales Island