n.1 a a group of houses and associated buildings, larger than a hamlet and smaller than a town, esp. in a rural area. b the inhabitants of a village regarded as a community.
2 Brit. a self-contained district or community within a town or city, regarded as having features characteristic of village life.
3 US a small municipality with limited corporate powers.
4 Austral. a select suburban shopping centre.
Derivatives:
villager n. villagey adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF f. L villa