Durham

UK: /ˈdʌrəm/ US: (dûr′əm, dur′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

Dur•ham  (dûr′əm, dur′-), n. 

1. Place Names a county in NE England. 607,600;
   940 sq. mi. (2435 sq. km).
2. Place Names a city in this county. 86,500.
3. Place Names a city in N North Carolina. 100,831.
4. Place Names a town in SE New Hampshire. 10,652.
5. [Animal Husb.] Shorthorn.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Durham / ˈdʌrəm/ noun

1. a former administrative county of NE England; became a unitary authority in 2009; on the North Sea: rises to the N Pennines in the west: the geographical and ceremonial county includes the unitary authorities of Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees (both part of Cleveland until 1996) and Darlington (created in 1997). Administrative centre: Durham. Pop (of Durham unitary authority): 494 200 (2003 est). Area (of Durham unitary authority): 2434 sq km (940 sq miles)
   Abbreviation: Dur.
2. a city in NE England, administrative centre of Co Durham, on the River Wear: Norman cathedral; 11th-century castle (founded by William the Conqueror), now occupied by the University of Durham (1832). Pop: 42 939 (2001)
3. a rare variety of shorthorn cattle
   See shorthorn