Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense communes, present participle communing, past tense, past participle communedpronunciation note: The noun is pronounced (kɒmjuːn). The verb is pronounced (kəmjuːn).
1. countable noun
A commune is a group of people who live together and share everything.
Mack lived in a commune.
2. countable noun
In France and some other countries, a commune is a town, village, or area which has its own council.
3. verb
If you say that someone is communing with an animal or spirit, or with nature, you mean that they appear to be communicating with it.
[literary]
He was so happy communing with the dolphin in Dingle Bay. [VERBwith noun]
She would happily trot behind him as he set off to commune with nature. [VERB + with]
More Synonyms of commune
commune in British English1
verb (kəˈmjuːn)(intransitive; usually foll bywith)
1.
to talk or converse intimately
2.
to experience strong emotion or spiritual feelings (for)
to commune with nature
noun (ˈkɒmjuːn)
3.
intimate conversation; exchange of thoughts; communion
Word origin
C13: from Old French comuner to hold in common, from comuncommon
commune in British English2
(kəˈmjuːn)
verb
(intransitive) Christianity, mainly US
to partake of Communion
Word origin
C16: back formation from communion
commune in British English3
(ˈkɒmjuːn)
noun
1.
a group of families or individuals living together and sharing possessions and responsibilities
2.
any small group of people having common interests or responsibilities
3.
the smallest administrative unit in Belgium, France, Italy, and Switzerland, governed by a mayor and council
4.
the government or inhabitants of a commune
5.
a medieval town enjoying a large degree of autonomy
Word origin
C18: from French, from Medieval Latin commūnia, from Latin: things held in common, from commūniscommon
Commune in British English
(ˈkɒmjuːn)
noun French history
1. Paris Commune
2.
a committee that governed Paris during the French Revolution and played a leading role in the Reign of Terror: suppressed 1794
commune in American English1
(ˈkɑmˌjun)
noun
1. Archaic
the common people
2.
a community
; specif.,
a.
a local body for self-government, esp. in medieval towns
b. Obsolete
a mir
3.
the smallest administrative district of local government in France, Belgium, and some other countries in Europe
4.
a strictly organized collective farm, as in China
5. US
a small group of people living communally and sharing in work, earnings, etc.
Idioms:
the Commune
Word origin
ME & OFr < ML communia, orig. pl. of L commune, lit., that which is common < communis, common
commune in American English2
(kəˈmjun; for n. ˈkɑmˌjun)
verb intransitiveWord forms: comˈmuned or comˈmuning
1.
a.
to talk together intimately
b.
to be in close spiritual harmony (with)
to commune with nature
2. Archaic
to receive Holy Communion
noun
3. OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic
intimate conversation
Idioms:
commune with oneself
Word origin
ME communen < OFr comuner, to make common, share < comun (see common); also < OFr communier, to administer the sacrament < L communicare, to share (LL(Ec), to receive the sacrament): see communicate
Examples of 'commune' in a sentence
commune
He insisted that you were a member of his commune, born there and belonging there.
Adams, N I.O.U. - SOMEONE HAS TO PAY (2000)
`Then again, I doubt she'd have told you about the film she made while she was staying at the commune.
MacNeill, Alastair CODE BREAKER (2000)
I learned to feel the land in a new way, to hear its murmurs, to shepherd its resources, to commune with its vastness.
Appiganesi, Lisa DREAMS OF INNOCENCE (2000)
In other languages
commune
British English: commune NOUN
A commune is a group of people who live together and share everything.
They lived in a commune.
American English: commune
Brazilian Portuguese: comuna
Chinese: 群居团体
European Spanish: comuna
French: communauté
German: Kommune
Italian: comune
Japanese: 生活共同体
Korean: 공동 생활체
European Portuguese: comuna
Latin American Spanish: comuna
Chinese translation of 'commune'
commune
(nˈkɔmjuːn; vbkəˈmjuːn)
n(c)
(= group) 公社 (gōngshè) (个(個), gè)
vi
(liter)
to commune with sth与(與)某物沟(溝)通 (yǔ mǒuwù gōutōng)
⇒ to commune with nature与大自然交融 (yǔ dàzìrán jiāoróng)
(noun)
Definition
a group of people living together and sharing possessions and responsibilities