town

—townless, adj.

/town/, n.

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. (esp. 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. Brit.

a. a village or hamlet in which a periodic market or fair is held.

b. any village or hamlet.

11. Scot. a farmstead.

12. go to town, Informal.

a. to be successful.

b. to do well, efficiently, or speedily: The engineers really went to town on those plans.

c. to lose restraint or inhibition; overindulge.

13. on the town,

a. 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.

b. supported by the public charity of the state or community; on relief.

14. paint the town. See paint (def. 16).

adj.

15. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or belonging to a town: town laws; town government; town constable.

[bef. 900; ME toun, tun, OE tun walled or fenced place, courtyard, farmstead, village; c. ON tun homefield, G Zaun fence, OIr dún fort]

Syn. 1. See community.

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(as used in expressions)

Camden Town Group

Cape Town

new town

town meeting

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