What term describes a bar formed when a growing spit connects the mainland to a near-shore island?

The term "tombolo" describes a landform created when a growing spit connects the mainland to a near-shore island. This formation occurs through the process of sediment accumulation whereby waves deposit sand and other materials, creating a land link. Tombolos often result from the interaction of wave energy and the geological features of the coastline, allowing a solid connection to form between the island and the mainland.

In contrast, a delta refers to the landform created at the mouth of a river where sediment is deposited as the river flows into a standing body of water. A baymouth bar is a barrier that extends across the mouth of a bay, typically formed by the same process of sediment deposition but does not specifically connect the mainland to an island. A jetty is a structure built to protect a harbor or shoreline from currents and waves, and it does not describe a landform created by natural processes like a tombolo does.