2. A portion of territory specially set off or defined; such as, for judicial, political, educational, or other purposes.
3. One of the territorial areas into which an entire state or country, county, municipality, or other political subdivision is divided; for judicial, political, electoral, or administrative purposes.
Properly, a limited extent of a country; a circuit within which power, right, or authority may be exercised, and to which it is restrained.
A word applicable to any portion of land or country, or to any part of a city or town, which is defined by law or agreement. A governor, a prefect, or a judge may have his district.
Some of the states are divided into districts for the choice of senators, representatives, or electors. Cities and towns are divided into districts for various purposes; such as, for schools, revenue collections, etc.
Such a system can substitute for furnaces, air conditioners, etc. within the district's individual buildings.
From the red lights traditionally displayed in the doors and windows of brothels. Note: there is no explanation in the dictionary as to why they "displayed" the "red lights".
2. An area or district in a city in which many houses of prostitution are located [1890-95; allegedly so called because brothels displayed red lights].
At least in the U.S., some say the origin of the red light comes from the red lanterns carried by railway workers, which were left outside brothels when the workers entered, so that they could be quickly located when the trains were ready to leave.