Definition of TOWN

town

Meanings

Plural: towns

Noun

  • an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
    • "they drive through town on their way to work"
  • the people living in a municipality smaller than a city
    • "the whole town cheered the team"
  • an administrative division of a county
    • "the town is responsible for snow removal"
  • United States architect who was noted for his design and construction of truss bridges (1784-1844)
  • A settlement; an area with residential districts, shops and amenities, and its own local government; especially one larger than a village and smaller than a city, historically enclosed by a fence or walls, with total populations ranging from several hundred to more than a hundred thousand (as of the early 21st century)
  • Any more urbanized centre than the place of reference.
  • A rural settlement in which a market was held at least once a week.
  • The residents (as opposed to gown: the students, faculty, etc.) of a community which is the site of a university.
  • Used to refer to a town or similar entity under discussion.
  • A major city, especially one where the speaker is located.
  • A townhouse.
  • A municipal organization, such as a corporation, defined by the laws of the entity of which it is a part.
  • An enclosure which surrounded the mere homestead or dwelling of the lord of the manor; by extension, the whole of the land which constituted the domain.
  • A farm or farmstead; also, a court or farmyard.
  • London, especially central London.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English toun, from Old English tūn (“enclosure, garden”), from Proto-West Germanic *tūn, from Proto-Germanic *tūną (“fence, enclosure”), of Celtic origin, from Proto-Celtic *dūnom, from Proto-Indo-European *dewh₂- (“to finish, come full circle”).
Cognate with Saterland Frisian Tuun (“garden”), West Frisian tún (“enclosure, garden”), Dutch tuin (“garden”), German Low German Tuun (“fence”), German Zaun (“fence”), Danish, Swedish and Norwegian tun (“yard”); also archaic Welsh din (“hill”), Irish dún (“fortress”). Doublet of dun. See also -ton and tine (“to enclose”).

Synonyms

Ithiel Town, townsfolk, township, townspeople

Scrabble Score: 7

town is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
town is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
town is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 8

town is a valid Words With Friends word