village

noun

VIL-ij/ˈvɪlɪd͡ʒ/

2 meanings of village

1
nouncountable
A group of houses and other buildings in a rural area, larger than a hamlet and smaller than a town; in Britain, traditionally one with a church but no market.
The village had grown up around an old mill beside the river.
Several villages dot the valley between the two mountain ranges.
Similarsettlement, community
2
nouncountable
A planned residential or commercial development designed as a self-contained community, such as a retirement village, a gated subdivision, or a purpose-built shopping district.
The developers marketed the gated retirement village as a self-contained community.
Tourists flock to the outlet village for discounted designer brands.
Similardevelopment, community, complex

Practice

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Origin

Latin villa (the source of English villa) is the ultimate source, through Latin villāticus, Old French village and Middle English village. The word largely took over from the Old English words wic, þorp and ham.