Boston

American  

[baw-stuhn, bos-tuhn] / ˈbɔ stən, ˈbɒs tən /

noun

1. a seaport in and the capital of Massachusetts, in the E part.

2. (lowercase) a variety of whist, popular in the early 19th century, played by four persons with two packs of cards.

3. (usually lowercase) a social dance that is a modification of the waltz.

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boston ¹ British  

/ ˈbɒstən /

noun

1. a card game for four, played with two packs

2. a slow gliding dance, a variation of the waltz

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Boston ² British  

/ ˈbɒstən /

noun

1. a port in E Massachusetts, the state capital. Pop: 581 616 (2003 est)

2. a port in E England, in SE Lincolnshire. Pop: 35 124 (2001)

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Boston Cultural  

1. Capital of Massachusetts and largest city in the state.

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Discover More

Site of the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party.

Boston is often called “the Hub” for “Hub of the Universe,” or “Beantown” after Boston baked beans.

Example Sentences

Coming in 2029: a new two-story Centurion lounge at Boston Logan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Attempts by The Times to reach Boston for comment were unsuccessful.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

The hope is that Gannon-Doak continues his recovery and is flying come Boston.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Boston Scientific stock tumbled 9% after the company posted mixed data for its Watchman heart implant.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Mr. Patterson had told me that over a hundred years ago, laborers had harvested the granite guts of the quarry to build a bridge between Boston and Cambridge.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen