warren

¹

[wawr-uhn, wor-]

noun

1. a place where rabbits breed or abound.

2. a building or area containing many tenants in limited or crowded quarters.

Warren

²

[wawr-uhn, wor-]

noun

1. Earl, 1891–1974, U.S. lawyer and political leader: chief justice of the U.S. 1953–69.

2. Joseph, 1741–75, American physician, statesman, and patriot.

3. Mercy Otis, 1728–1814, U.S. historian and poet (sister of James Otis).

4. Robert Penn, 1905–89, U.S. novelist and poet: named the first U.S. poet laureate (1986–87).

5. a city in SE Michigan, near Detroit.

6. a city in NE Ohio, NW of Youngstown.

7. a city in NW Pennsylvania.

8. a town in E Rhode Island.

9. a male given name: from a Germanic word meaning “protection.”

warren

¹

/ ˈwɒrən /

noun

1. a series of interconnected underground tunnels in which rabbits live

2. a colony of rabbits

3. an overcrowded area or dwelling

4. 1. an enclosed place where small game animals or birds are kept, esp for breeding, or a part of a river or lake enclosed by nets in which fish are kept (esp in the phrase beasts or fowls of warren )

   2. English legal history a franchise permitting one to keep animals, birds, or fish in this way

Warren

²

/ ˈwɒrən /

noun

1. a city in the US, in SE Michigan, northeast of Detroit. Pop: 136 016 (2003 est)

Warren

³

/ ˈwɒrən /

noun

1. Earl. 1891–1974, US lawyer; chief justice of the US (1953–69). He chaired the commission that investigated the murder of President Kennedy

Word History and Origins

Origin of warren¹

1350–1400; Middle English warenne < Anglo-French; Old French g ( u ) arenne < Germanic *warinne game park, equivalent to *war- (base of *warjan to defend) + *-inne feminine noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of warren¹

C14: from Anglo-French warenne, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German werien to preserve

Example Sentences

Unofficial mines were created by property owners digging underneath their gardens and creating the warren of tunnels which are now causing SCC's engineers such a headache.

From BBC

Sichuan Alley, which opened its first outlet in New York last year, is inspired by "alley culture" characteristic of early 20th Century Chengdu – a warren of old streets where people mingled and feasted.

From BBC

"On the ground floor there were no windows. It felt like you were in a hospital in the basement. It was a slightly gloomy place, a gloomy rabbit warren."

From BBC

The new arrivals were often broke or close to it, and instantly found themselves in a crowded warren of streets that catered to their basest needs.

From Los Angeles Times

Not far from the Canton Fair, there are warrens of workshops in Guangdong making clothes, shoes and bags.

From BBC