borough

American  

[bur-oh, buhr-oh] / ˈbɜr oʊ, ˈbʌr oʊ /

noun

1. (in certain states of the U.S.) an incorporated municipality smaller than a city.

2. one of the five administrative divisions of New York City.

3. British.

   1. an urban community incorporated by royal charter, similar to an incorporated city or municipality in the U.S.

   2. a town, area, or constituency represented by a Member of Parliament.

   3. (formerly) a fortified town organized as and having some of the powers of an independent country.

4. (in Alaska) an administrative division similar to a county in other states.

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borough British  

/ ˈbʌrə /

noun

1. a town, esp (in Britain) one that forms the constituency of an MP or that was originally incorporated by royal charter See also burgh

2. any of the 32 constituent divisions that together with the City of London make up Greater London

3. any of the five constituent divisions of New York City

4. (in the US) a self-governing incorporated municipality

5. (in medieval England) a fortified town or village or a fort

6. (in New Zealand) a small municipality with a governing body

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Etymology

Origin of borough

before 900; Middle English burw ( e ), borwg ( h ), borogh, bor ( u ) g, bur ( u ) g, burgh town, Old English burg fortified town; cognate with Old Norse borg, Old Saxon, Dutch burg, German Burg castle, Gothic baurgs city; MIr brí, brig, Welsh, Breton bre hill, Avestan bərəz- height; akin to Armenian bardzr, Hittite parkus high. See barrow ².

Example Sentences

Bridgend council said it was considering banning dogs from marked sports pitches across the county borough.

From BBC

This would smack middle-class homeowners in the outer boroughs as well as the wealthy in Manhattan.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Center for an Urban Future has also proposed creating a major cultural festival across the city's five boroughs to revitalize the arts sector.

From Barron's

Mr. Holzer, of Hunter College’s Roosevelt House, is the newly named Manhattan borough historian.

From The Wall Street Journal

This island near the Statue of Liberty, dotted with large, detached houses and patchy bus service, is politically more conservative than New York's other four boroughs.

From Barron's

Related Words

• district
• precinct