name Uncommon

Durham

DUH-ruhm

Durham (name) means a county and cathedral city in northeast England. Example: “Durham Cathedral sits high above the River Wear.”

name

A county and cathedral city in northeast England.

"Durham Cathedral sits high above the River Wear."

A city in North Carolina, USA, home to Duke University.

"They moved to Durham, North Carolina, for the university."

noun

A breed of short-horned beef cattle originally raised in County Durham, England.

"The farm kept a small herd of Durham cattle."

How to use Durham

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn English county and cathedral city; also a US city and a cattle breed sharing the name.

Word forms

Durhams plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ Cathedral sits high above the River Wear.

Etymology

From Old English Dūnholm, "hill island," which shifted in pronunciation over centuries until it settled as Durham.

Origin: Old English

Frequently asked questions

What does “Durham” mean?

The word “Durham” means a county and cathedral city in northeast England. In plain terms, an English county and cathedral city; also a US city and a cattle breed sharing the name.

How do you pronounce “Durham”?

“Durham” is pronounced DUH-ruhm (/ˈdɝəm/ in IPA).

How do you use “Durham” in a sentence?

Here is “Durham” used in a sentence: “Durham Cathedral sits high above the River Wear.”

What part of speech is “Durham”?

Depending on how it is used, “Durham” can be a name and a noun.

Where does the word “Durham” come from?

The word “Durham” comes from Old English. From Old English Dūnholm, "hill island," which shifted in pronunciation over centuries until it settled as Durham.

Is “Durham” a common word?

“Durham” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Durham” have?

“Durham” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a county and cathedral city in northeast England.

What is the difference between Durham, England and Durham, North Carolina?

Durham in England is a county and cathedral city in the northeast of the country, known for its historic cathedral. Durham in North Carolina, USA, is a city home to Duke University, and the two places share only a name.

What is Durham cattle?

Durham refers to a breed of short-horned beef cattle originally raised in County Durham, England, named after the region where the breed was developed.

Why is Durham, North Carolina associated with Duke University?

Durham, North Carolina is home to Duke University, making the city closely associated with the institution as its host city.

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