borough
[ bur-oh, buhr-oh ]
/ ˈbɜr oʊ, ˈbʌr oʊ /
noun
(in certain states of the U.S.) an incorporated municipality smaller than a city.
one of the five administrative divisions of New York City.
British.
- an urban community incorporated by royal charter, similar to an incorporated city or municipality in the U.S.
- a town, area, or constituency represented by a Member of Parliament.
- (formerly) a fortified town organized as and having some of the powers of an independent country.
(in Alaska) an administrative division similar to a county in other states.
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
barrow2.
Words nearby borough
Example sentences from the Web for borough
British Dictionary definitions for borough
borough
/ (ˈbʌrə) /
noun
a town, esp (in Britain) one that forms the constituency of an MP or that was originally incorporated by royal charter
See also burgh
any of the 32 constituent divisions that together with the City of London make up Greater London
any of the five constituent divisions of New York City
(in the US) a self-governing incorporated municipality
(in medieval England) a fortified town or village or a fort
(in New Zealand) a small municipality with a governing body
Word Origin for borough
Old English
burg; related to
beorgan to shelter, Old Norse
borg wall, Gothic
baurgs city, Old High German
burg fortified castle