warren

¹ American  

[wawr-uhn, wor-] / ˈwɔr ən, ˈwɒr- /

noun

1. a place where rabbits breed or abound.

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

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Warren ² American  

[wawr-uhn, wor-] / ˈwɔr ən, ˈwɒr- /

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.”

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warren ¹ British  

/ 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

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Warren ² British  

/ ˈwɒrən /

noun

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

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Warren ³ British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of warren

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

Explanation

When Bugs Bunny outruns Elmer Fudd and vanishes down his rabbit hole, he's escaping into a warren — a network of underground tunnels where rabbits live. A warren isn't just the maze-like tunnels where rabbits live. You may encounter a warren of subway tunnels or a warren of interconnected bomb shelters. Bring those narrow paths above ground and cluster them with homes and you have another kind of warren, or a maze-like residential area.

Example Sentences

Bari Vecchia—or “old” Bari—is a dizzying but inviting warren of white-stone alleyways and sunny piazzas that make up the historic heart of the city.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 26, 2025

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 • Aug. 16, 2025

In the dense warren of stalls, the best-looking produce is displayed prominently: ripe bananas, glistening limes and orderly rows of broccoli and asparagus.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 26, 2024

Hollywood Hills A rabbit warren of steep, narrow, twisty streets and near-total lack of sidewalks make foot traffic in most of this hilly neighborhood not just challenging but downright dangerous.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 8, 2024

If he remembered Holly’s story rightly, she had already made some sort of attempt to leave the warren.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams