town

 
Pronunciation: /taʊn/

noun

  • 1a built-up area with a name, defined boundaries, and local government, that is larger than a village and generally smaller than a city: the hotel is eight miles from the nearest town Britain’s major towns and cities
  • the particular town under consideration, especially one’s own town: Churchill was in town
  • British dated the chief city or town of a region: he has moved to town
  • [mass noun] the permanent residents of a university town: a rift between the city’s town and gownOften contrasted with gown
  • 2the central part of a neighbourhood, with its business or shopping area: Rachel left to drive back into town
  • 3 [mass noun] densely populated areas, especially as contrasted with the country or suburbs: the cultural differences between town and country

Phrases

go to town

informal do something thoroughly, enthusiastically, or extravagantly: I thought I’d go to town on the redecoration

on the town

informal enjoying the nightlife of a city or town: a lot of guys out for a night on the town

Derivatives

townish

adjective

townlet

noun

townward

adjective & adverb

townwards

adverb

Origin:

Old English tūn 'enclosed piece of land, homestead, village', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch tuin 'garden' and German Zaun 'fence'