lo·cal / ˈlōkəl/ • adj. belonging or relating to a particular area or neighborhood, typically exclusively so: researching local history the local post office. ∎  denoting a telephone call made to a nearby place and charged at a relatively low rate. ∎  denoting a train or bus serving a particular district, with frequent stops: the town has an excellent local bus service. Compare with express² . ∎  (in technical use) relating to a particular region or part, or to each of any number of these: a local infection migration can regulate the local density of animals. ∎  Comput. denoting a variable or other entity that is only available for use in one part of a program. ∎  Comput. denoting a device that can be accessed without the use of a network. Compare with remote.• n. a local person or thing, in particular: ∎  an inhabitant of a particular area or neighborhood: the street was full of locals and tourists. ∎  a local train or bus service: catch the local into New Delhi. ∎  a local branch of an organization, esp. a labor union. ∎ short for local anesthesia. ∎ Stock Exchange slang a floor trader who trades on their own account, rather than on behalf of other investors.DERIVATIVES: lo·cal·ly adv.lo·cal·ness n.

local XV. — (O)F. — late L. locālis, f. locus place; see -AL1.
So locale XIX, later form of local sb. XVIII. — F. local, sb. use of the adj. locality XVII. — F. or late L. locate appoint the place OF. XVIII. f. L. locāre, locāt-, location hiring; placing. XVI. — L. locative (gram.). XIX.

local A term applied to entities that are accessible only in a restricted part of a program, typically in a procedure or function body. By contrast, nonlocal entities are accessible in a wider scope and global entities are accessible throughout a program. The use of local entities can help to resolve naming conflicts, and may lead to a more efficient use of memory.