1. Relating to or characteristic of an island: This is the more literal meaning, referring to something that is located on or is part of an island. For example, "The insular nation of Iceland has a unique culture."
2. Narrow-minded or isolated from other cultures and ideas: This is a metaphorical use of the word, implying that someone or something is closed off, uninterested in new ideas or perspectives, and resistant to change.
Here are some examples:
* Positive: "The insular community on the island was very welcoming to newcomers." (referring to the geographical meaning)
* Negative: "His insular views made him resistant to any new ideas." (referring to the metaphorical meaning)
To summarize, "insular" can refer to a physical island or a metaphorical state of isolation and narrow-mindedness. The specific meaning depends on the context.