Augusta
Augusta — noun
1. the city that serves as Maine's state capital in the northeastern United States,
the city that serves as Maine's state capital in the northeastern United States, especially in talk about government, schools, or travel in New England.
State lawmakers met in Augusta to discuss the new school budget.
Augusta in state government news
After the museum in Portland, Mia drove to Augusta for the State House tour.
travel route with to Augusta
The museum in Augusta teaches children about Maine's early history.
In class, Mr. Reed said Augusta is smaller than most state capitals.
Heavy snow closed shops in Augusta and delayed buses near the State House.
- Augusta, Maine
- in Augusta
- downtown Augusta
- the capital of Maine
Grammar Patterns
used as a place name
Usage Note
Distinguish from geographical name/2: this sense is the everyday use for the Maine capital in news, travel, and school contexts. Geographical name/2 refers to the same city but presents map-style facts such as river position and size.
Common Mistakes
Augusta — geographical name
1. a city in eastern Georgia in the southeastern United States, beside the Savannah
a city in eastern Georgia in the southeastern United States, beside the Savannah River and known to many people for major golf events.
Every April, sports fans travel to Augusta for a famous golf tournament.
Augusta linked with golf events
The train from Atlanta reaches Augusta after long stretches of pine forest.
At the visitor center, Nora saw Augusta near the South Carolina line.
location statement with sits close to
By sunset, warm river air left Augusta sticky after the baseball game.
Her aunt runs a sandwich shop in downtown Augusta near Broad Street.
- Augusta, Georgia
- downtown Augusta
- on the Savannah River
- travel to Augusta
Grammar Patterns
used as a place name
Usage Note
Often understood in American contexts through golf, travel, or Georgia place names. Distinguish from noun/1 and geographical name/2: those two senses refer to the Maine capital, while this sense is the Georgia city on the Savannah River.
Common Mistakes
2. a Maine city beside the Kennebec River, with a population of about nineteen thou
a Maine city beside the Kennebec River, with a population of about nineteen thousand people in the source data.
Augusta stands on the Kennebec River in central Maine.
location statement with stands on
The census poster lists Augusta at about nineteen thousand people.
population statement with chart data
Drivers on Interstate 95 pass west of Augusta before heading to Bangor.
From Memorial Bridge, Leo could see Augusta spread along the Kennebec River.
- the city of Augusta
- Augusta on the Kennebec River
- central Maine
- west of Augusta
Grammar Patterns
used as a place name
Usage Note
Common in atlases, maps, and reference writing. Distinguish from noun/1: both senses refer to the same place, but this one focuses on location and population rather than its role as the state capital.
Common Mistakes
Common collocations
Nouns
- Augusta, Maine
- Augusta, Georgia
- downtown Augusta
Phrases
- the city of Augusta
- Augusta on the Savannah River
- Augusta on the Kennebec River
Prepositions
- in Augusta
- from Augusta
- to Augusta
Etymology
Augusta comes from Latin Augusta, the feminine form of Augustus, a title meaning 'great' or 'worthy of honor'. English later used Augusta as a woman's name and also as a place name, especially when towns were named in a classical style or in honor of a royal woman. The American city names keep that Latin-shaped form in English.