English - Etymology
From Middle English, from Old English _tūn_ (“enclosure, village”), from Proto-Germanic _*tūną_ (“fence”) (compare West Frisian _tún_, Dutch _tuin_ (“garden”), German _Zaun_, Danish/Swedish _tun_), from Gaulish _dunon_ (“hill, hillfort”) (compare Welsh _din_ (“hill”), Irish _dún_ (“fortress”)), from Proto-Celtic _*dūnom_, from Proto-Indo-European _*dʰewh₂-_ (“to finish, come full circle”), (compare Hittite [script needed] (tuhhušta, “it is finished”), Latin _fūnus_ (“burial”), Ancient Greek _θνητός_ (thnētós, “mortal”), _θάνατος_ (thánatos, “death”), [script needed] (thaneīn, “to die”), Sanskrit [script needed] (ádhvanīt, “he vanished”)).
From Middle English, from Old English tūn (“enclosure, village”), from Proto-Germanic *tūną (“fence”) (compare West Frisian tún, Dutch tuin (“garden”), German Zaun, Danish/Swedish tun), from Gaulish dunon (“hill, hillfort”) (compare Welsh din (“hill”), Irish dún (“fortress”)), from Proto-Celtic *dūnom, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewh₂- (“to finish, come full circle”), (compare Hittite [script needed] (tuhhušta, “it is finished”), Latin fūnus (“burial”), Ancient Greek θνητός (thnētós, “mortal”),
θάνατος (thánatos, “death”), [script needed] (thaneīn, “to die”), Sanskrit [script
needed] (ádhvanīt, “he vanished”)).
English - Noun
Wikipedia
TOWN (_plural_ TOWNS)
* A settlement; an area with residential districts, shops and amenities, and its own local government; especially one larger than a village and smaller than a city.
_This TOWN is really dangerous because these youngsters have Beretta handguns._
* Any more urbanized center than the place of reference.
_I'll be in Yonkers, then I'm driving into TOWN to see the Knicks at the Garden tonight._
* (UK, historical) A rural settlement in which a market was held at least once a week.
* The residents (as opposed to _gown_: the students, faculty, etc.) of a community which is the site of a university.
* (colloquial) Used to refer to a town or similar entity under discussion.
_Call me when you get to TOWN._
* (law) A municipal organization, such as a corporation, defined by the laws of the entity of which it is a part.
* (obsolete) An enclosure which surrounded the mere homestead or dwelling of the lord of the manor.
* (obsolete) The whole of the land which constituted the domain.
* (obsolete) A collection of houses enclosed by fences or walls.
(Can we find and add a quotation of Palsgrave to this entry?)
* (UK, Scotland, dialect, obsolete) A farm or farmstead; also, a court or farmyard.
USAGE NOTES
An urban city is typically larger than a rural town, which in turn is typically larger than a village. In rural areas, a _town_ is considered urban. In urban areas, a _town_ is considered suburban; a village in the suburbs.
DERIVED TERMS
* Look at pages starting with town.
TRANSLATIONS
Wikipedia
town (plural towns)
-
A settlement; an area with residential districts, shops and amenities, and its own local government; especially one larger than a village and smaller than a city.
-
This town is really dangerous because these youngsters have Beretta handguns.
-
Any more urbanized center than the place of reference.
-
I'll be in Yonkers, then I'm driving into town to see the Knicks at the Garden tonight.
-
(UK, historical) A rural settlement in which a market was held at least once a week.
-
The residents (as opposed to gown: the students, faculty, etc.) of a
community which is the site of a
university.
-
(colloquial) Used to refer to a town or similar entity under discussion.
-
Call me when you get to town.
-
(law) A municipal organization, such as a corporation, defined by the laws of the entity of which it is a part.
-
(obsolete) An enclosure which surrounded the mere homestead or dwelling of the lord of the manor.
-
(obsolete) The whole of the land which constituted the domain.
-
(obsolete) A collection of houses enclosed by fences or walls.
-
(Can we find and add a quotation of Palsgrave to this entry?)
-
(UK, Scotland, dialect, obsolete) A farm or farmstead; also, a court or farmyard.
An urban city is typically larger than a rural town, which in turn is typically larger than a village. In rural areas, a town is considered urban. In urban areas, a town is considered suburban; a village in the suburbs.