durham

Everyday

1. A city in north-east England, famous for its very old cathedral and castle on a hill above the river Wear, and for its university. tree →
2. The county around it, County Durham. tree →
3. A city in North Carolina, USA, and a region in Ontario, Canada. tree →
4. (rare) A surname, and the name of an old breed of shorthorn cattle. tree →

In the lessons

It is a place name, so it begins with a capital letter. In geography and history lessons it comes up as an example of a cathedral city in England and old coal-mining areas of County Durham. In everyday life it appears on maps, addresses and sports teams.

Examples

• Durham Cathedral stands high above the river. tree →
• My cousin studies at Durham University. tree →
• We drove through County Durham on our way to Scotland. tree →
• Durham is a city in North Carolina too. tree →
• The miners of County Durham held a big gala every summer. tree →
• Jevons has heard it in the neighbourhood of Durham; while a further version appeared in Monthly Chronicle of North Country Folk-Lore. tree →

Note

A proper noun: always write «Durham» with a capital letter. Pronounced «DUR-um» (the h is silent). Not a common word; it names places and people.