metropolis

Definitions

Greek mētēr (mother) + pólis (city) = 'mother city.' Originally the founding city that sent out colonies; the maternal image faded, leaving today's sense of a great central city.

Why It Means This

Metropolis literally means 'mother city.' In ancient Greece, when a pólis grew crowded it would found colonies elsewhere; the original city was their mētrópolis — their mother. The colonial sense is gone, but the 'great central city' meaning remains, which is also why a city's surrounding region is called its metropolitan area.

Common Collocations

• 1.bustling metropolis繁华的大都市
• 2.modern metropolis现代大都会
• 3.sprawling metropolis无序扩张的大都市

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Tokyo is one of the largest metropolises in the world.

• 2.

  She left the quiet countryside for the bustling metropolis.

• 3.

  The film is set in a futuristic metropolis.