citycity /ˈsɪt̮i/ ●●● S1 W1 noun (plural cities) [countable] 1
a)a large important town: Have you ever visited New York City? Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States. I have always lived in big cities. They live on the outskirts of the city (=the edge of the city). b)social studies a town of any size that has definite borders and powers that were officially given by the state government: city of The city of Parlier is in Fresno county.► see thesaurus at town2[usually singular] the people who live in a city: The city has been living in fear since last week’s earthquake.3the city the government of a city: The city is working to improve public transportation.city of He works for the city of San Diego.4...city spoken used in order to say that there is a lot of something in a place or situation, or that a situation or place makes you feel something strongly: It was sun city all weekend. [Origin: 1100–1200 Old French cité, from Latin civitas citizenship, state, city of Rome] → see also inner city, sister cityCOLLOCATIONSadjectives/nouns + citya big/large/major city London is one of the safest major cities in the world.a sprawling city (=spreading over a large area) Houston is a sprawling city.a great city (=very important and interesting) Cairo is one of the world’s great cities.a capital city (=where the government of a country or state is) Cuba’s capital city is Havana.somebody’s home city/native city (=where they were born or grew up) He left the capital to return to his home city.a cosmopolitan city (=full of people from different parts of the world) San Francisco is a very cosmopolitan city.the inner city (=the part of a city that is near the middle, especially when it is poor and in bad condition) There is a lot of crime and poverty in the inner city.an industrial city (=where there are a lot of factories) There is a lot of unemployment in old industrial cities like Cleveland and Pittsburgh.an ancient/historic city (=very old and with an interesting history) Budapest is a beautiful and historic city.a port city (=a city where ships are loaded and unloaded) We traveled to the port city of Alexandria in Egypt.a holy city (=a city that is connected with God and religion) Mecca is a holy city for Muslims.a coastal city (=a city that is in the area where the land meets the ocean) The coastal city of Shanghai is the largest city in China.nounsthe city limits (=the furthest parts of the city) New developments are being built outside the city limits.city resident/city dweller (=someone who lives in a city) Many city residents are concerned about the increase in crime.city life He was tired of city life.verbsfound a city (=start developing a new city) The city of Baghdad was founded in the 8th century.
a)a large important town: Have you ever visited New York City? Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States. I have always lived in big cities. They live on the outskirts of the city (=the edge of the city). b)social studies a town of any size that has definite borders and powers that were officially given by the state government: city of The city of Parlier is in Fresno county.► see thesaurus at town2[usually singular] the people who live in a city: The city has been living in fear since last week’s earthquake.3the city the government of a city: The city is working to improve public transportation.city of He works for the city of San Diego.4...city spoken used in order to say that there is a lot of something in a place or situation, or that a situation or place makes you feel something strongly: It was sun city all weekend. [Origin: 1100–1200 Old French cité, from Latin civitas citizenship, state, city of Rome] → see also inner city, sister cityCOLLOCATIONSadjectives/nouns + citya big/large/major city London is one of the safest major cities in the world.a sprawling city (=spreading over a large area) Houston is a sprawling city.a great city (=very important and interesting) Cairo is one of the world’s great cities.a capital city (=where the government of a country or state is) Cuba’s capital city is Havana.somebody’s home city/native city (=where they were born or grew up) He left the capital to return to his home city.a cosmopolitan city (=full of people from different parts of the world) San Francisco is a very cosmopolitan city.the inner city (=the part of a city that is near the middle, especially when it is poor and in bad condition) There is a lot of crime and poverty in the inner city.an industrial city (=where there are a lot of factories) There is a lot of unemployment in old industrial cities like Cleveland and Pittsburgh.an ancient/historic city (=very old and with an interesting history) Budapest is a beautiful and historic city.a port city (=a city where ships are loaded and unloaded) We traveled to the port city of Alexandria in Egypt.a holy city (=a city that is connected with God and religion) Mecca is a holy city for Muslims.a coastal city (=a city that is in the area where the land meets the ocean) The coastal city of Shanghai is the largest city in China.nounsthe city limits (=the furthest parts of the city) New developments are being built outside the city limits.city resident/city dweller (=someone who lives in a city) Many city residents are concerned about the increase in crime.city life He was tired of city life.verbsfound a city (=start developing a new city) The city of Baghdad was founded in the 8th century.