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View synonyms for

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. ٳ·· [ith, -ee-, uh, l], 1784–1844, U.S. architect.

town

/ ٲʊ /

noun

    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

  1. a city, borough, or other urban area
  2. (in the US) a territorial unit of local government that is smaller than a county; township
  3. the nearest town or commercial district
  4. London or the chief city of an area
  5. the inhabitants of a town
  6. the permanent residents of a university town as opposed to the university staff and students Compare gown
  7. go to town
    1. to make a supreme or unrestricted effort; go all out
    2. to lose one's temper
  8. on the town
    seeking out entertainments and amusements
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈٴǷɲԾ, adjective
  • ˈٴǷɲԱ, adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • ٴǷɲl adjective
  • t·ٴǷɲ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of town1

First recorded before 900; Middle English toun, tun, Old English ū “walled or fenced place, courtyard, farmstead, village”; cognate with Old Norse ū “hdzھ,” German Zaun “fence”; akin to Old Irish ú “citadel, fortress” ( down 3( def ) )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of town1

Old English ū village; related to Old Saxon, Old Norse ū, Old High German ū fence, Old Irish ū
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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 .
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Did the sports section of The Times miss the memo that the Lakers are not the only team in town anymore?

From

DUNSMUIR, Calif. — Less than a half a mile from the city limits of this Northern California railroad town is a natural wonder so enchanting that locals compare it to geologic features in Yosemite or Yellowstone.

From

On 2 February, she allegedly breached a family violence restraining order in Ocean Reef, the town where her family lived, according to Western Australia Courts.

From

Before parking up, Lloyd and Paul stopped off in the town centre to inspect the river.

From

"There is very little in the way of food, there is very little in the way of water," he said, adding that the small town was currently sheltering around 130,000 to 150,000 people.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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