shire
n. countable C2 Proficiency US //ˈʃaɪɹ// UK //ʃˈaɪə// shire
n. a traditional name for a county in the United Kingdom. You see this word at the end of many place names like Yorkshire or Hampshire.
n. a traditional administrative subdivision of Great Britain, equivalent to a county. Often appears as a suffix in toponyms, where it is typically unstressed and pronounced with a reduced vowel.
He grew up in a quiet shire in the middle of England.
The local council manages several historic shires, ensuring that the rural boundaries remain protected from urban sprawl.
Usage
When used as a suffix in place names (e.g., Oxfordshire), it is usually not capitalized unless the whole name is.