District

n. [L. Lat. districtus, district, from Lat. districtus, P. P. of distringere; Fr. district, It. distretto. See DISTRAIN.]

1Sense 1. (Feudal Law.) All that space within which the lord has the power of coercing and punishing.

2Sense 2. A defined portion of a state or city for legislative, judicial, fiscal, or elective purposes.

To exercise exclusive legislation . . . over such district not exceeding ten miles square. Constitution of the U. S.

3Sense 3. Any portion of territory of undefined extent; a region; a country. “These districts which between the tropics lie.” Blackstone.

District attorney, the prosecuting officer of a district or district court. — District court (U. S.), a subordinate tribunal having jurisdiction in certain cases within a judicial district. — District judge, one who presides over a district court. — District school, a public school for the children within a certain district of a town.

Synonyms— Division; quarter; province; tract; region; country.

[imp. & p. p. DISTRICTED; p. pr. & vb. n. DISTRICTING.] To divide into districts or limited portions of territory; as, legislatures district states for the choice of senators.