taun n. 1 a a
large urban area with a
name, defined boundaries,
and local government,
being larger
than a
village and usu.
not created a
city. b
any densely populated area,
esp. as opposed to
the country or suburbs. c the
people of a town (the
whole town knows of it). 2 a
Brit. London or the
chief city or town in one's
neighbourhood (went up to town). b the
central business or
shopping area in a neighbourhood (just
going into town). 3 the
permanent residents of a
university town as
distinct from the members of the university (cf. GOWN). 4 US =
TOWNSHIP 2. øgo to town colloq.
act or
work with
energy or
enthusiasm. on the town colloq. enjoying the entertainments, esp. the night-life, of a town; celebrating. town
clerk 1 US &
hist. the
officer of the
corporation of a town in
charge of records etc. 2 Brit. hist. the
secretary and
legal adviser of a town corporation
until 1974. town
council the
elective governing
body in a
municipality. town
councillor an elected
member of
this. town
crier see CRIER. town
gas manufactured gas
for domestic and
commercial use. town
hall a
building for the
administration of local government, having
public meeting rooms etc. town
house 1 a town
residence, esp. of a
person with a house in the country. 2 a
terrace house, esp. of a
stylish modern type. 3 a house in a planned
group in a town. 4 Brit. a town hall. town-major hist. the chief
executive officer in a
garrison town or
fortress. town
mayor Brit. the
chairman of a town council. town meeting US a meeting of the voters of a town for the
transaction of public business. town planning the planning of the
construction and
growth of towns. øøtownish adj. townless adj. townlet n. townward adj. & adv. townwards adv. [OE
tun enclosure f. Gmc]
