A commune is a small community where people live together and share resources, work, and responsibilities. Unlike a typical neighborhood where families live independently in their own homes, members of a commune might share meals, divide up chores like cooking and farming, and make important decisions together as a group.

Communes became especially popular in the 1960s and 1970s, when some people tried creating alternative ways of living. They might grow their own food, build their own houses, and organize their lives around shared values like simplicity, equality, or environmental protection. Some communes still exist today, though they're fairly rare.

The word can also refer to the smallest unit of local government in France and some other European countries. A French commune is similar to a town or township in the United States, with its own mayor and local council.

When used as a verb (to commune), it means to communicate intimately or feel in close harmony with someone or something. You might commune with nature during a quiet walk in the woods, feeling deeply connected to the trees and wildlife around you.