I. ˈbər.(ˌ)ō, ˈbər.ə, ˈbə.(ˌ)rō, ˈbə.rə, often -r.əw or -.rəw+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English burgh, burwe, borugh, from Old English burg, burh fortified town, fortress; akin to Old High German burg fortified place, Old Norse borg wall, fortification, Gothic baurgs city, Middle Irish brī hill, Avestan bərəz- high, Old English beorg mountain, hill, mound — more at barrow
1.
a. : a medieval fortified group of houses (as in Great Britain) forming a town with special duties and privileges, having in its later form its own courts, the right of burgherhood inheritable, representatives in the national council or parliament, and holding a charter from the king
b. : a town or urban constituency in Great Britain that sends a member or members to Parliament ; also : an organized part of such a constituency sharing in the election of a member
c. : an urban area in Great Britain incorporated for purposes of self-government — see county I 3c, metropolitan borough , municipal borough
d. : an incorporated town in Scotland : burgh ; specifically : one returning or contributing to return a member to Parliament
2.
a. : a municipal corporation proper in some states (as Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Minnesota) corresponding in general to the incorporated town or village of the other states
b. : one of the five constituent political divisions of New York City
3. : a village, township, or town in New Zealand having a special governing body
4.
a. : a town area in New So. Wales in Australia as incorporated by an act of Parliament of 1857 or holding a special charter from the crown — compare municipality , shire
b. : a municipal area in Australia of a minimum size and population
II. noun
: a civil division of the state of Alaska corresponding to a county in other states