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REFERENCE

borough

n.
US //ˈbɝˌoʊ// UK //bˈʌɹɐ// bor·ough
  1. 1 city administrative district (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    one of the parts that a large city is divided into for local government.

    an administrative division of a large city, such as London or New York, that manages local services and governance.

    Example

    Camden is a famous borough in London known for its markets and music.

    Example

    The city is divided into five distinct boroughs, each with its own president and specific administrative responsibilities under the municipal charter.
  2. 2 self-governing town (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Law

    a town that has its own local government and special rights.

    a town or village that is an incorporated municipality, often possessing a royal charter or specific legal status.

    Example

    The small borough held a meeting to discuss the new park rules.

    Example

    Historically, the borough was granted the right to hold a weekly market by a royal decree in the fourteenth century.
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  1. 3 Alaska county equivalent (n.)
    C2 Proficiency American English Technical

    the name for a large area or county in the state of Alaska.

    a primary administrative division in the state of Alaska, functionally equivalent to a county in other US states.

    Example

    The North Slope Borough is the northernmost part of the United States.

    Example

    Unlike most other states that use counties, Alaska is partitioned into organized boroughs and one unorganized borough covering the remainder of the territory.
  2. 4 fortified town (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic

    an old word for a town with walls or a fort for protection.

    a fortified town or stronghold; the historical root of the modern administrative term.

    Example

    The ancient borough was built on a hill to watch for enemies.

    Example

    The suffix '-burgh' in many Scottish place names originates from the medieval borough, which served as a defensive and commercial hub.
Origin

From Middle English borwe, borgh, burgh, buruh, from Old English burh, burg, from Proto-West Germanic burg, from Proto-Germanic burgz (“stronghold, city”). Cognate with Dutch burcht, German Burg, Swedish borg, French bourg, Turkish burç. Doublet of Brough, burgh, and Bury.

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