town

¹

[ toun ]

noun

1. a thickly populated area, usually smaller than a city and larger than a village, having fixed boundaries and certain local powers of government.
2. a densely populated area of considerable size, as a city or borough.
3. (especially in New England) a municipal corporation with less elaborate organization and powers than a city.
4. (in most U.S. states except those of New England) a township.
5. any urban area, as contrasted with its surrounding countryside.
6. the inhabitants of a town; townspeople; citizenry.
7. the particular town or city in mind or referred to:

   living on the outskirts of town; to be out of town.

8. a nearby or neighboring city; the chief town or city in a district:

   I am staying at a friend's apartment in town.

9. the main business or shopping area in a town or city; downtown.
10. British.
    1. a village or hamlet in which a periodic market or fair is held.
    2. any village or hamlet.
11. Scot. a farmstead.

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or belonging to a town:

   town laws; town government; town constable.

Town

²

[ toun ]

noun

1. Ith·i·el [ith, -ee-, uh, l], 1784–1844, U.S. architect.

town

/ taʊn /

noun

1. 1. a densely populated urban area, typically smaller than a city and larger than a village, having some local powers of government and a fixed boundary
   2. ( as modifier ) urban

      town life

2. a city, borough, or other urban area
3. (in the US) a territorial unit of local government that is smaller than a county; township
4. the nearest town or commercial district
5. London or the chief city of an area
6. the inhabitants of a town
7. the permanent residents of a university town as opposed to the university staff and students Compare gown
8. go to town
   1. to make a supreme or unrestricted effort; go all out
   2. to lose one's temper
9. on the town
   seeking out entertainments and amusements

Derived Forms

• ˈtownish, adjective
• ˈtownless, adjective

Other Words From

• townless adjective
• inter·town adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of town¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English toun, tun, Old English tūn “walled or fenced place, courtyard, farmstead, village”; cognate with Old Norse tūn “homefield,” German Zaun “fence”; akin to Old Irish dún “citadel, fortress” ( down ³( def ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of town¹

Old English tūn village; related to Old Saxon, Old Norse tūn, Old High German zūn fence, Old Irish dūn

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go to town, Informal.
   1. to be successful.
   2. to do well, efficiently, or speedily:

      The engineers really went to town on those plans.

   3. to lose restraint or inhibition; overindulge.
2. on the town,
   1. Informal. in quest of entertainment in a city's nightclubs, bars, etc.; out to have a good time:

      a bunch of college kids out on the town.

   2. supported by the public charity of the state or community; on relief.
3. paint the town. paint ( def 16 ).

More idioms and phrases containing town

In addition to the idiom beginning with town , also see all over the place (town) ; ghost town ; go to town ; man about town ; one-horse town ; only game in town ; on the town ; out of town ; paint the town red ; talk of the town .

Synonym Study

See community.

Example Sentences

Hours earlier, the US State Department told the media that an American man died in the tourist town of Vang Vieng.

From BBC

The New York Times revealed that when Cher was an infant, out of desperation her mother abandoned her at a children's home in Scranton, Pennsylvania and skipped town.

From Salon

Good thing: Though he’s in town to shoot a performance for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” he’s booked on a red-eye flight to Tampa tomorrow for a stadium gig with Wallen the following night.

From Los Angeles Times

Rust depicts the manhunt for grandfather and grandson amidst a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and tumbleweed dirt towns.

From BBC

Although some fans and locals quietly lined the street during the service, One Direction’s legion of fans did not converge on the small town.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• city
• metropolis
• municipality
• township