different between commons vs township

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) enPR: k?m??nz, IPA^(key): /?k?m?nz/
• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: k?m??nz, IPA^(key): /?k?m?nz/
• Hyphenation: com?mons

Noun

commons

1. plural of common

Noun

commons

1. A dining hall, usually at a college or university.
2. A central section of (usually an older) town, designated as a shared area, a common.

   The Renaissance festival started with the "peasants" meeting in the commons.

   The commons is the green space surrounded by the village hall, the school, and the church.

   The commons of New England towns are important contributors to their charm.

3. (figuratively) The mutual good of all; the abstract concept of resources shared by more than one, for example air, water, information.

   Synonym: res communis

   "The tragedy of the commons" is that none wish to make sacrifices of their or their family's interests for the common good.

4. (euphemistic, obsolete) An outhouse.
5. (obsolete, Britain, Oxford University) Food served at a fixed rate from the college buttery, distinguished from battels.
6. Food in general; rations.

   short commons

Synonyms

• (outhouse): common house, House of Commons; see also Thesaurus:bathroom

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Verb

commons

1. Third-person singular simple present indicative form of common

References

• commons in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

French

Verb

commons

1. first-person plural present indicative of commer
2. first-person plural imperative of commer

English

Etymology

From Middle English towneship, townschip, tounshipe, tunscipe, from Old English t?ns?ipe (“the inhabitants of a town; township”), equivalent to town +? -ship.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?ta?n??p/

Noun

township (plural townships)

1. The territory of a town.
2. (US, Canada) a subdivision of a county.
3. (South Africa, Pre 1994) An area set aside for nonwhite occupation.
   • 1972, Daily Dispatch: "In addition, the council has completed the planning of a new Coloured township on the site of the existing African township"
4. (South Africa, Post 1994) A nonwhite (usually subeconomic) area attached to a city.
5. (Australia, New Zealand) a small town.

Usage notes

In the U.S. (derived from an obsolete UK usage), the term "township" refers to a division of a county, and may include one or more towns, villages, hamlets, or small cities. It may also be an administrative district for an unincorporated rural area. The exact nature of a township, and its role in local administration, differs from state to state.

Related terms

• squatter camp

Descendants

• Portuguese: township

Translations

References

1978: A Dictionary of South African English edited by Jean Branford. Oxford.

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tawn.?ip/

Noun

township m (plural townships)

1. township (in South Africa)
2. (Canada) canton

Portuguese

Noun

township

1. (historical) township (area set aside for non-white occupation in South Africa)