city Hear it!

city definition

city (sitē)

noun pl. cities cit′·ies

  1. a center of population larger or more important than a town or village
  2. in the U.S., an incorporated municipality whose boundaries and powers of self-government are defined by a charter from the state in which it is located
  3. in Canada, any of various large urban municipalities within a province
  4. in Great Britain, a borough or town with a royal charter, usually a town that has been or is an episcopal see
  5. all of the people of a city
  6. in ancient Greece, a city-state

Etymology: ME cité, citet < OFr < L civitas, citizenship, community of citizens, hence state, city < civis, townsman: see home

adjective

of, in, for, or characteristic of a city
city Idioms

the City

the financial and commercial district of Greater London

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

city Synonyms

city

modif.


city

n.

town, municipality, borough, burg*, capital*, megalopolis*, metropolis*, provincial town, county town, county seat*, trading center, inner city*, downtown*, shopping center*, shopping district, business district, financial district, urban place, urban center, incorporated town, metropolitan area, township*, port*, conurbation*, urban sprawl*, asphalt jungle*; see also center 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

city Usage Examples

Possessives

  • landmark: Start answering the questions to his or viewers improve the city's true landmarks.

Converse of object

  • explore: Having decided to explore this historic city we decided to walk in.

Adjective modifier

  • historic: Having decided to explore this historic city we decided to walk in.

Modifies a noun

  • center: The sign to the city center is spelled in the American way ' center ' .

Noun used with modifier

  • capital: Evening / Night Tours of London - £ 150 London Town - our capital city.
city usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

city quotes

   Brave men are a city's strongest tower of defence.

-Alcaeus

Once in royal David's city Stood a lowly cattle-shed, Where a mother laid her baby In a manger for his bed. Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.

-Alexander, Cecil Frances

There is a green hill far away, Without a city wall, Where the dear Lord was crucified, Who died to save us all.

-Alexander, Cecil Frances

city quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"city." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/city>

APA Style

city. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/city

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