name
Hamburg
HAM-burg
name
1
The second-largest city in Germany and one of its constituent states, a major port on the Elbe River.
"Container ships from around the world dock in the port of Hamburg."
noun
1
Ground beef, or a patty made from it, especially before it is served in a bun.
"She bought a pound of hamburg for the meatloaf."
How to Use Hamburg
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the major German port city, or (mainly in American English) a casual shortening of "hamburger meat."
UK vs US
The "ground beef" sense is a regional American usage, especially in the northeastern US; it is not common in British English.
Word Forms
hamburged past tense, Hamburgs plural, hamburgs plural, hamburgs singular
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Container ships from around the world dock in the port of _____.
Etymology
From German Hamburg, a compound linked to an old word for a bend or hollow of land plus "burg" (fortified town).