[town] n [ME, fr. OE tun enclosure, village, town; akin to OHG zun enclosure, OIr dun fortress] (bef. 12c) 1 dial Eng: a cluster or aggregation of houses recognized as a distinct place with a place-name: hamlet
2. a: a compactly settled area as distinguished from surrounding rural territory b: a compactly settled area usu. larger than a village but smaller than a city c: a large densely populated urban area: city d: an English village having a periodic fair or market
3: a neighboring city, capital city, or metropolis
4: the city or urban life as contrasted with the country
5: the inhabitants of a city or town
6: a New England territorial and political unit usu. containing both rural and unincorporated urban areas under a single town government; also: a New England community governed by a town meeting 7: a group of prairie dog burrows -- town adj -- on the town : in usu. carefree pursuit of entertainment or amusement (as city nightlife) esp. as a relief from routine