local

Local means relating to a particular space or place or serving only a small portion of something. (adjective)

An example of local used as an adjective is a local mall which means the mall nearby where someone lives.
An example of local used as an adjective is local government meaning the government that serves a town or a few towns.

A local is a person or thing belonging to a specific town or area. (noun)

An example of a local is a person born and raised in the town where she attends college.

See local in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

relating to place
of, characteristic of, or confined to a particular place or district: items of local interest
not broad; restricted; narrow: local outlook
of or for a particular part or specific area of the body; not general
☆ making all stops along its run: a local bus
Chiefly Brit. of or relating to specific portions or details of a literary text, as distinguished from its overall structure, themes, style, etc.

noun

☆ a local train, bus, etc.
☆ a newspaper item of local interest only
☆ a chapter or branch of a labor union
Informal a resident of a particular place: they tried to convince the locals
Brit., Informal a neighborhood pub
an anesthetic that numbs only a small area of the body, allowing the patient to remain conscious during minor surgery, a biopsy, etc.
in full local anesthetic

See local in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(lōˈkəl)

adjective

a. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a particular place: a local custom; the local slang.
b. Of or relating to a city, town, or district rather than a larger area: state and local government.
Not broad or general; not widespread: local outbreaks of flu.
Of or affecting a specific part of the body: a local infection.
Making all possible or scheduled stops on a route; not express: a local train.

noun

A public conveyance that makes several intermediate stops before the final destination is reached: changed trains to a local.
A local chapter or branch of an organization, especially of a labor union.
A local anesthetic.
Informal A person from a particular locality.

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