island. 1  a tract of land completely surrounded by water, and not large enough to be called a continent. 2  something resembling an island, especially in being isolated or having little or no direct communication with others.
While you can begin making qualified withdrawals from a traditional IRA at age 59Â½, you must start taking withdrawals that are known as required minimum distributions starting in the year you turn 70 Â½.
Lifetime distributions. Individuals with IRAs are required to begin lifetime RMDs from their IRAs no later than April 1 of the year following the year in which they reach age 70Â½. (This is in contrast to RMDs from employer-sponsored plans which, in most cases, may be postponed until after the employee retires or reaches age 70Â½, whichever is later).