town
a thickly populated area, usually smaller than a city and larger than a village, having fixed boundaries and certain local powers of government.
a densely populated area of considerable size, as a city or borough.
(especially in New England) a municipal corporation with less elaborate organization and powers than a city.
(in most U.S. states except those of New England) a township.
any urban area, as contrasted with its surrounding countryside.
the inhabitants of a town; townspeople; citizenry.
the particular town or city in mind or referred to: living on the outskirts of town; to be out of town.
a nearby or neighboring city; the chief town or city in a district: I am staying at a friend's apartment in town.
the main business or shopping area in a town or city; downtown.
British.
a village or hamlet in which a periodic market or fair is held.
any village or hamlet.
Scot. a farmstead.
of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or belonging to a town: town laws; town government; town constable.
Idioms about town
go to town, Informal.
to be successful.
to do well, efficiently, or speedily: The engineers really went to town on those plans.
to lose restraint or inhibition; overindulge.
on the town,
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.
supported by the public charity of the state or community; on relief.
paint the town. paint (def. 16).
Origin of town
1synonym study For town
Other words from town
- townless, adjective
- in·ter·town, adjective
Words Nearby town
Other definitions for Town (2 of 2)
Ith·i·el [ith-ee-uhl], /ˈɪθ i əl/, 1784–1844, U.S. architect.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use town in a sentence
Helping revive small towns isn’t minor league baseball’s only upside.
Can Small-Town America Survive Pandemic’s Hit to Minor League Baseball? | Charu Kasturi | September 14, 2020 | OzyEvery week, anywhere from one to five individuals will show up from each town, with each outcome equally likely.
On Tuesday, Hancock’s health department issued its latest localized coronavirus restrictions, this time affecting the town of Bolton, near Manchester in the North of England.
As the U.K.’s coronavirus testing system struggles, the health secretary blames too many ‘inappropriate’ tests | David Meyer | September 9, 2020 | FortuneWhen your legs need a rest, there’s year-round climbing within an hour of town.
Connell says most of his friends do work but that could be because he lives in a ski resort town with more jobs for teenagers than elsewhere.
Indeed, although he works here in the old town, he lives in the new part of the city where he walks his dog in the morning.
The Photographer Who Gave Up Manhattan for Marrakech | Liza Foreman | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTTheir bodies were later found incinerated and buried in mass graves outside of town.
Why Mexicans Are Enraged by Obama’s Big Tuesday Meeting | Ruben Navarrette Jr. | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe sheriff charged them with truancy, and then he and his officers ran them out of town.
Dr. King Goes to Hollywood: The Flawed History of ‘Selma’ | Gary May | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTSome of the streets in this part of the town have seen large scale-destruction.
The town, known in Arabic as Ayn al-Arab, is so significant to ISIS that the group calls it Ayn al-Islam.
The Duchess had also a tent for their sick men; so that we had a small town of our own here, and every body employed.
The garrison of the town and fortress was nearly three thousand strong.
"I don't know whether I am going to like this or not--this coming to live in town," thought the little pig.
Squinty the Comical Pig | Richard BarnumOf course it is only the hardiest Ferns which can be expected to grow well in the town garden.
How to Know the Ferns | S. Leonard BastinThe sun was shining when they arrived at Salon, the gayest, the most coquettish, the most laughing little town in Provence.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. Locke
British Dictionary definitions for town
/ (taʊn) /
a densely populated urban area, typically smaller than a city and larger than a village, having some local powers of government and a fixed boundary
(as modifier): town life Related adjective: urban
a city, borough, or other urban area
(in the US) a territorial unit of local government that is smaller than a county; township
the nearest town or commercial district
London or the chief city of an area
the inhabitants of a town
the permanent residents of a university town as opposed to the university staff and students: Compare gown (def. 3)
go to town
to make a supreme or unrestricted effort; go all out
Australian and NZ informal to lose one's temper
on the town seeking out entertainments and amusements
Origin of town
1Derived forms of town
- townish, adjective
- townless, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with town
In addition to the idiom beginning with town
- town and gown
also see:
- all over the place (town)
- ghost town
- go to town
- man about town
- one-horse town
- only game in town
- on the town
- out of town
- paint the town red
- talk of the town
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse