n. 1 a a group of people, not necessarily related, sharing living accommodation, goods, etc., esp. as a political act. b a communal settlement esp. for the pursuit of shared interests. 2 a the smallest French territorial division for administrative purposes. b a similar division elsewhere. 3 (the Commune) the communalistic government in Paris in 1871.
[ F f. med.L communia neut. pl. of L communis common ]