Durham

American  

[dur-uhm, duhr-] / ˈdɜr əm, ˈdʌr- /

noun

1. a county in NE England. 940 sq. mi. (2,435 sq. km).

2. a city in this county.

3. a city in N North Carolina.

4. a town in SE New Hampshire.

5. Animal Husbandry. Shorthorn.

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Durham British  

/ ˈdʌrəm /

noun

1.  Dur..  a former administrative county of NE England; became a unitary authority in 2009; on the North Sea: rises to the N Pennines in the west: the geographical and ceremonial county includes the unitary authorities of Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees (both part of Cleveland until 1996) and Darlington (created in 1997). Administrative centre: Durham. Pop (of Durham unitary authority): 494 200 (2003 est). Area (of Durham unitary authoritiy): 2434 sq km (940 sq miles)

2. a city in NE England, administrative centre of Co Durham, on the River Wear: Norman cathedral; 11th-century castle (founded by William the Conqueror), now occupied by the University of Durham (1832). Pop: 42 939 (2001)

3. a rare variety of shorthorn cattle See shorthorn

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Example Sentences

There are few things Americans agree on these days, but one is a shared delight in the anguishes of the Durham, N.C., basketball behemoth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Durham Police is investigating to see if any criminal offences have been committed.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

UTASS, which is based in Middleton-in-Teesdale, was set up 25 years ago to offer support to rural communities across the Durham Dales.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

He is expected to play for Durham in the County Championship early next month before attention switches to England's summer Test series' against New Zealand in June and Pakistan in August and September.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

Although the civil rights leader was beloved in most black communities, Durham felt a special connection to King because of his crucial 1960 visit in support of the lunch-counter movement.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson