town

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
town/taʊn/

▶noun

• 1 a built-up area with a name, defined boundaries, and local government, that is larger than a village and generally smaller than a city.

  ■ Brit. dated the chief city or town of a region.

• 2 the central part of a town or city, with its business or shopping area.

• 3 densely populated areas, especially as contrasted with the country or suburbs.

• 4 the permanent residents of a university town. Contrasted with gown.

– phrases
go to town informal do something thoroughly or enthusiastically.
on the town informal enjoying the nightlife of a city or town.

– derivatives
townish adjective,
townlet noun,
townward adjective & adverb,
townwards adverb.

– origin OE tūn ‘enclosed piece of land, homestead, village’, of Gmc origin.