city
Where skyscrapers cluster
A city is a large, densely populated settlement—bigger than a town, with more infrastructure and political importance.
The threshold varies by country; in some places a few thousand people qualify, in others it takes millions.
Cities serve as centers of commerce, culture, and government: She moved to the city for work.
The adjective city distinguishes urban from rural: city life, city streets.
In casual speech, the city often means the nearest major urban center or its downtown core.
Urban profile against atmosphere
- downtownCentral business district
- midtownCentral urban district
- uptownAffluent city area
- metropolisLarge important city
megalopolis · sprawl · grid · blocks · streets · avenues · boulevards · intersections
Residential area nearby
- districtBounded administrative area
- boroughAdministrative town or district
- wardProtected person; division
- quarterOne of four parts
precinct · zone · suburb · outskirts · periphery · downtown · enclave · ghetto
Movement along routes
- crowdsAssembled multitudes
- noiseUnwanted auditory disturbance
- commotionNoisy, confused disturbance
- congestionExcessive accumulation causing blockage
rush hour · pedestrians · commuters · hustle · energy · bustling · hectic · fast-paced
Venue for trade
- retailSales to end users
- tradeExchange of commodities
- businessCommercial activity or occupation
- financial districtCommercial banking hub area
shopping · merchants · vendors · storefronts · bazaar · mall · marketplace · commerce
Institutions preserving cultural artifacts
- theaterVenue for live drama
- galleriesSpaces for displaying art
- cuisineCharacteristic cooking style
- nightlifeEvening entertainment culture
festivals · arts · music · dance · diversity · cosmopolitan · bohemian · subcultures
Elected head of municipality
- councilAdvisory deliberative group
- ordinanceOfficial government regulation
- charterFounding organizational document
- budgetPlan for spending
taxation · zoning · planning · administration · bureaucracy · elections · alderman · commissioner
Movement between places
- subwayUnderground transit passage
- metroUrban rail transit
- busesMulti-passenger road vehicles
- roadsPaved paths for vehicles
bridges · tunnels · highways · utilities · sewers · pipes · grid · power
Notable point of reference
- façadeFalse outward appearance
- monumentStructure honoring someone remembered
- domeRounded vault forming roof
- archCurved spanning structure
column · atrium · terrace · balcony · plaza · edifice · brutalism · modernism
Very old indeed
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- colonialOf occupied territories
- foundingCreating an organization originally
- ruinsDecayed structural remains
old town · historic · heritage · monuments · preservation · archaeology · chronicles · legacy
skyline
Urban profile against atmosphere
metropolis · megalopolis · sprawl · grid · blocks · streets · avenues · boulevards · intersections · high-rise
neighborhood
Residential area nearby
- districtBounded administrative area
- boroughAdministrative town or district
- wardProtected person; division
quarter · precinct · zone · suburb · outskirts · periphery · downtown · enclave · ghetto · barrio
traffic
Movement along routes
congestion · rush hour · pedestrians · commuters · hustle · energy · bustling · hectic · fast-paced · vibrant
market
Venue for trade
financial district · shopping · merchants · vendors · storefronts · bazaar · mall · marketplace · commerce · banking
museums
Institutions preserving cultural artifacts
nightlife · festivals · arts · music · dance · diversity · cosmopolitan · bohemian · subcultures · heritage
mayor
Elected head of municipality
- councilAdvisory deliberative group
- ordinanceOfficial government regulation
- charterFounding organizational document
budget · taxation · zoning · planning · administration · bureaucracy · elections · alderman · commissioner · services
transit
Movement between places
roads · bridges · tunnels · highways · utilities · sewers · pipes · grid · power · water
landmark
Notable point of reference
- façadeFalse outward appearance
- monumentStructure honoring someone remembered
- domeRounded vault forming roof
arch · column · atrium · terrace · balcony · plaza · edifice · brutalism · modernism · art deco
ancient
Very old indeed
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- colonialOf occupied territories
- foundingCreating an organization originally
ruins · old town · historic · heritage · monuments · preservation · archaeology · chronicles · legacy · antiquity
- Citytown, downtown, midtown, suburb, high street
- geographycontinents, continent, oceans, countries, country
- placestown, village, hamlet, building, buildings
- proper nounscountry, places, continent, countries, first name
- urbanmetropolis, skyline, skyscraper, downtown, highrise
- Wikipedia topicsbiography, country, animal, plant, event
cityvillage
Small rural community
hamlet · countryside · rural area · country · small town
citywilderness
Uncultivated, uninhabited natural region
countryside · nature · rural · wild · forest
cityrural
Of the countryside
countryside · country · farmland · pastoral · provincial
- big cityLarge urban area
- city hallSeat of local government
- New York CityAmerica's largest city
- Emerald CityOz's gleaming green capital
- senior citizenAged person, typically retired
- city lifeExistence in populated centers
citizen, cities, citizenship, cityscape, citizenry, megacity, citywide, citified, cityscapes