An island in the Pacific Ocean, one of the Line Islands of Kiribati; population 5,115 (2005). The largest atoll in the world, it was discovered by Captain James Cook on Christmas Eve 1777 and was British until it became part of an independent Kiribati in 1979.
Former name (until 1981) Christmas Island
Definition of Kiritimati in US English:
Kiritimati
proper nounkəˈrisməs
An island in the Pacific Ocean, one of the Line Islands of Kiribati; population 5,115 (2005). The largest atoll in the world, it was discovered by Captain James Cook on Christmas Eve 1777 and was British until it became part of an independent Kiribati in 1979.