metropolis
Vast urban center
A metropolis is a very large, important city, especially one that serves as a center of commerce, culture, or political power in a region: Tokyo is a sprawling metropolis of over thirteen million people.
The word carries connotations of urban density, sophistication, and significance that distinguish it from merely large cities.
In formal usage, a metropolis may specifically mean the chief city of a country or region, or the mother city of a colony in ancient Greece.
Urban area exceeding ten million
- conurbationMerged continuous urban area
- populousDensely settled with people
- bustlingFull of energetic activity
- crowdedFilled beyond comfort
commuters · pedestrians · traffic · congestion · subway · taxicabs · hubbub · rush hour
Urban profile against atmosphere
- skyscrapersExtremely tall urban buildings
- high-risesMulti-story urban buildings
- downtownCentral business district
- boroughsMunicipal administrative districts
districts · suburbs · sprawl · boulevard · avenue · plaza · landmark · architecture
Public exhibit space
- theaterVenue for live drama
- operaTheatrical art combining song
- balletClassical dance on pointe
- gallerySpace for displaying artwork
cinema · concert hall · festival · art · music · fashion · design · cuisine
Local governing district
- capitalWealth used for investment
- civicPertaining to community affairs
- boroughAdministrative town or district
- districtBounded administrative area
township · zoning · city hall · mayor · council · public works · ordinance · jurisdiction
Including multiple ethnic traditions
- melting potCultural fusion place
- internationalConcerning relations among countries
- diverseOf many types
- expatriatesPeople living outside homeland
immigrants · ethnic enclaves · languages · pluralistic · Chinatown · Little Italy · cross-cultural · global
Provide money for
- bankingFinancial institution transactions
- stock exchangeSecurities trading marketplace
- business districtUrban area for commerce
- corporationLegally separate business entity
trade · markets · commerce · entrepreneurship · investment · startups · venture capital · headquarters
megacity
Urban area exceeding ten million
- conurbationMerged continuous urban area
- populousDensely settled with people
- bustlingFull of energetic activity
crowded · commuters · pedestrians · traffic · congestion · subway · taxicabs · hubbub · rush hour · density
skyline
Urban profile against atmosphere
- skyscrapersExtremely tall urban buildings
- high-risesMulti-story urban buildings
- downtownCentral business district
boroughs · districts · suburbs · sprawl · boulevard · avenue · plaza · landmark · architecture · towers
museum
Public exhibit space
gallery · cinema · concert hall · festival · art · music · fashion · design · cuisine · nightlife
municipality
Local governing district
- capitalWealth used for investment
- civicPertaining to community affairs
- boroughAdministrative town or district
district · township · zoning · city hall · mayor · council · public works · ordinance · jurisdiction · urban planning
multicultural
Including multiple ethnic traditions
- melting potCultural fusion place
- internationalConcerning relations among countries
- diverseOf many types
expatriates · immigrants · ethnic enclaves · languages · pluralistic · Chinatown · Little Italy · cross-cultural · global · polyglot
finance
Provide money for
- bankingFinancial institution transactions
- stock exchangeSecurities trading marketplace
- business districtUrban area for commerce
corporation · trade · markets · commerce · entrepreneurship · investment · startups · venture capital · headquarters · industry
- placescity, town, village, hamlet, building
- urbancity, skyline, skyscraper, cityscape, downtown
- city lifecity, urban life, traffic noise, downtown, city life
- city termsmayor, city council, city hall, zoning laws, urban sprawl
- city typescapital, megacity, port city, coastal city, suburb
- cityscape artrooftop view, aerial view, panorama, neon lights, downtown
metropolisvillage
Small rural community
hamlet · small town · rural town · backwater · rural community
metropoliswilderness
Uncultivated, uninhabited natural region
countryside · country · backwoods · hinterland · rural area
- metropolitan areaCity plus linked suburbs
- Metropolitan OperaNYC opera institution
- Metropolitan PoliceCity law enforcement agency
- modern metropolisLarge current-day urban area
- Metropolitan lineUrban area transit route
- metropolitan lifeLiving in large cities