district

views updated May 14 2018

dis·trict / ˈdistrikt/ • n. (abbr.: distr.) an area of a country or city, esp. one regarded as a distinct unit because of a particular characteristic: an elegant shopping district. ∎  a region defined for an administrative purpose: the city school district. ∎  (the District) the District of Columbia; Washington, DC.• v. [tr.] divide into districts.ORIGIN: early 17th cent. (denoting the territory under the jurisdiction of a feudal lord): from French, from medieval Latin districtus ‘(territory of) jurisdiction,’ from Latin distringere ‘draw apart.’

District

views updated May 23 2018

DISTRICT

One of the territorial areas into which an entire state or country, county, municipality, or other political subdivision is divided, for judicial, political, electoral, or administrative purposes.

The circuit or territory within which a person may be compelled to appear. Circuit of authority; province.

A judicial district is a designated area of a state over which a court has been empowered to hear lawsuits that arise within it or that involve its inhabitants. A federal judicial district is an area of a state in which a federal district court sits to determine matters involving federal questions or diversity of citizenship of the parties.

A congressional district is a geographical sub-division of a state that elects a representative to Congress.

A legislative district is a specific section of a state that elects a representative to the state legislature.

district

views updated May 21 2018

district †territory under the jurisdiction of a feudal lord; portion of territory marked off for a purpose (various spec. uses) XVII; region, quarter XVIII. — F. district — medL. districtus (power of) exercising justice, territory involved in this, f. district-, pp. stem of L. distringere DISTRAIN.

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District

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