n.
(pl. communities)
- a group of people living together in one place, especially one practising common ownership.
▸a place considered together with its inhabitants:
a rural community.
▸
(the community)
the people of an area or country considered collectively; society.
- a group of people having a religion, race, profession, or other characteristic in common:
the scientific community.
▸a body of countries unified by common interests.
- the condition of having certain attitudes and interests in common.
▸joint ownership or liability.
- Ecology a group of interdependent plants or animals growing or living together.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. comunete, reinforced by its source, L. communitas, from communis (see common).