megalopolis

[ meg-uh-lop-uh-lis ]
/ ˌmɛg əˈlɒp ə lɪs /

noun

a very large city.
an urban region, especially one consisting of several large cities and suburbs that adjoin each other.
Also megapolis.

Origin of megalopolis

First recorded in 1825–35; megalo- + polis

Example sentences from the Web for megalopolis

British Dictionary definitions for megalopolis

megalopolis
/ (ˌmɛɡəˈlɒpəlɪs) /

noun

an urban complex, usually comprising several large towns

Derived forms of megalopolis

megalopolitan (ˌmɛɡələˈpɒlɪtən), adjective, noun

Word Origin for megalopolis

C20: megalo- + Greek polis city

Cultural definitions for megalopolis

megalopolis
[ (meg-uh-lop-uh-lis) ]

A vast stretch of developed industrial urban area, such as the East Coast of the United States from Boston to Washington, D.C., or the Ruhr Valley in Germany. Megalopolis is from Greek words meaning “great city.”