town

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English tūn enclosure, village, town; akin to Old High German zūn enclosure, Old Irish dún fortress Date: before 12th century 1. dialect England a cluster or aggregation of houses recognized as a distinct place with a place-name ; hamlet 2. a. a compactly settled area as distinguished from surrounding rural territory b. a compactly settled area usually larger than a village but smaller than a city c. a large densely populated urban area ; city d. an English village having a periodic fair or market 3. a particular town or city under consideration <

the circus came to town

> 4. the city or urban life as contrasted with the country 5. a. the inhabitants of a city or town <

practically the whole town turned out for the parade

> b. the townspeople of a college or university town as distinct from the academic community <

relations between town and gown

> 6. a New England territorial and political unit usually containing under a single town government both rural areas and urban areas not having their own charter of incorporation; also a New England community governed by a town meeting 7. a group of prairie dog burrows • town adjective