ENGLISH
REFERENCE

melbourne

n. countable
A2 Elementary US //ˈmɛɫbɝn// mel·bourne

n. a large city in southeast Australia. It is the capital of the state of Victoria and is famous for its coffee, art, and sports.

n. the capital city of the Australian state of Victoria, situated on the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay. It serves as a major cultural, financial, and sporting hub in the Southern Hemisphere.


SIMPLE

Melbourne is famous for its many hidden street art alleys.

CONTEXTUAL

Many international students choose to live in Melbourne because of its high-ranking universities and diverse food scene.

COMPLEX

The architectural landscape of Melbourne seamlessly blends Victorian-era heritage buildings with contemporary skyscrapers, reflecting its rapid growth from a colonial settlement to a global metropolis.

Origin

Named after the 2nd Viscount of Melbourne, Derbyshire, itself deriving from the Old English mylen (“mill”) + burne (“stream”).

Usage

As a proper noun, it is almost always used without an article unless referring to a specific historical period or context.

© 2026 English Reference