English Reference

Word

birmingham

Phoneticsbirm·ing·ham

/ˈbɝmɪŋˌhæm/

Definitions

01city in England

A2

n. a large city in the West Midlands of England, known for its history of industry and diverse culture.

n. a major city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England; historically a centre of the Industrial Revolution and currently the UK's second-largest city.

“Many people travel from London to Birmingham by train for business meetings.”

“Birmingham underwent significant urban regeneration in the late twentieth century, transforming its industrial canals into a vibrant cultural and commercial district.”

02city in the USA

B1

n. a large city in the state of Alabama, famous for its role in the American civil rights movement.

n. the most populous city in the U.S. state of Alabama, historically significant as a primary site of the American civil rights movement.

“The museum in Birmingham, Alabama, tells the story of the fight for equal rights.”

“During the 1960s, Birmingham became a focal point for the civil rights movement, leading to landmark changes in American federal law.”

American English

03a surname

C1

n. a family name used in English-speaking countries.

n. a habitational surname derived from the English city, identifying a person originally from that location.

“Professor Birmingham wrote a famous book about the history of the region.”

“The archival records indicate that the Birmingham family held significant land titles in the county for several generations.”

Formal

Etymology

From Middle English, 1086, from Old English *Beormingahām, from Beornmund + ing + hām, "home of Beorma;" first element of uncertain origin but possibly from beorma (“yeast”). More at Beorma.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
A2 · Elementary
Frequency
Common
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference