district

[dis-trikt] /ˈdɪs trɪkt/
noun
1.
a division of territory, as of a country, state, or county, marked off for administrative, electoral, or other purposes.
2.
a region or locality:
the theater district; the Lake District.
3.
British. a subdivision of a county or a town.
4.
the District, the District of Columbia; Washington, D.C.
verb (used with object)
5.
to divide into districts.
Origin
1605-15; (< F) < Medieval Latin distrīctus exercise of justice, (area of) jurisdiction, derivative of Latin distringere to stretch out (see distrain), equivalent to di- di-2 + strig- (base of stringere to bind, tie) + -tus suffix of verbal action
Related forms
interdistrict, adjective
outdistrict, noun
predistrict, noun
Examples from the web for district
  • The district has caught national headlines for its corruption, budget woes, and low test scores.
  • Entrepreneurs in the district welcome the attention.
  • Nevertheless, he succeeded in populating the entire district in record time, creating a pattern for many later settlements.
  • Officials then turned the phones over to the district attorney's office, which began a criminal investigation.
  • The appellate panel's ruling sends the case back to the district court for further proceedings.
  • The district attorney filed a motion to dismiss the charges.
  • The computers are officially owned by the district and placed on long-term loan with the teachers.
  • Eight people were killed and some four-fifths of the commercial district destroyed.
  • Most of its revenues come from tolls and fares, and the district loses money.
  • The theater district is lined with finds guaranteed to entice last-minute shoppers.
British Dictionary definitions for district

district

/ˈdɪstrɪkt/
noun
1.
  1. an area of land marked off for administrative or other purposes
  2. (as modifier): district nurse
2.
a locality separated by geographical attributes; region
3.
any subdivision of any territory, region, etc
4.
(in England from 1974 and in Wales 1974–96) any of the subdivisions of the nonmetropolitan counties that elects a council responsible for local planning, housing, rates, etc See also metropolitan district
5.
(in Scotland until 1975) a landward division of a county
6.
(in Scotland 1975–96) any of the subdivisions of the regions that elected a council responsible for environmental health services, housing, etc
7.
any of the 26 areas into which Northern Ireland has been divided since 1973. Elected district councils are responsible for environmental health services, etc
verb
8.
(transitive) to divide into districts
Word Origin
C17: from Medieval Latin districtus area of jurisdiction, from Latin distringere to stretch out; see distrain
Word Origin and History for district
n.

1610s, "territory under the jurisdiction of a lord or officer," from French district (16c.), from Medieval Latin districtus "restraining of offenders, jurisdiction," then under the feudal system "area of jurisdiction," noun use of past participle of Latin distringere "hinder, detain" (see distress). Used vaguely of "any tract of land" from 1712. District attorney attested by 1789, American English.