Berkeley

American  

[burk-lee, bahrk-lee] / ˈbɜrk li, ˈbɑrk li /

noun

1. Busby William Berkeley Enos, 1895–1976, U.S. choreographer and musical-film director.

2. George, 1685?–1753, Irish bishop and philosopher.

3. Sir William, 1610–77, British colonial governor of Virginia 1642–76.

4. a city in western California, on San Francisco Bay.

5. a city in eastern Missouri, near St. Louis.

6. Also Barclay a first name.

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Berkeley ¹ British  

/ ˈbɑːklɪ /

noun

1. Busby . real name William Berkeley Enos . 1895–1976, US dance director, noted esp for his elaborate choreography in film musicals

2. George . 1685–1753, Irish philosopher and Anglican bishop, whose system of subjective idealism was expounded in his works A Treatise concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge (1710) and Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous (1713). He also wrote Essay towards a New Theory of Vision (1709)

3. Sir Lennox ( Randal Francis ). 1903–89, British composer; his works include four symphonies, four operas, and the Serenade for Strings (1939)

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Berkeley ² British  

/ ˈbɜːklɪ /

noun

1. a city in W California, on San Francisco Bay: seat of the University of California. Pop: 102 049 (2003 est)

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Berkeley Cultural  

1. City in California on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay.

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Discover More

Berkeley is the location of a distinguished branch of the University of California. The University of California at Berkeley has been a center for student activism and social-change movements, particularly in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Example Sentences

UC Berkeley education professor Bruce Fuller focused on the recent private school decline, noting that “fewer parents appear able to afford private schools.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

While at the University of California, Berkeley, pursuing a doctorate in theoretical physics, he started taking computer science courses out of curiosity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

The research involved scientists from the University of California, Berkeley; the University of Minnesota; and the University of British Columbia.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

The Berkeley, Calif.–based company in January delayed the release of its next-generation Cepheus-1-108Q system, saying it needed to make more progress on the technical front.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Ernest had pressed Oppie to return to Berkeley after the war, but their wartime experiences had widened their personal differences into a gulf.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik