city

noun

1. 1

   A large settlement, bigger than a town; sometimes with a specific legal definition, depending on the place.

   São Paulo is the largest city in South America.

   Ah, knovv you not the Citie fauours them, / And they haue troupes of Souldiers at their beck?

   So this was my future home, I thought![…]Backed by towering hills, the but faintly discernible purple line of the French boundary off to the southwest, a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams.

   But clever cities will not necessarily be better ones.

2. 2

   historicalA settlement granted special status by royal charter or letters patent; traditionally, a settlement with a cathedral regardless of size.

   Manchester, incorporated in 1838, was made the centre of a bishopric in 1847 and became a city in 1853. Liverpool was transformed into a city by Royal Charter when the new diocese of Liverpool was created in 1880.

   St Davids itself is the smallest city in Great Britain, with a population of less than 2,000.

3. 3

   The central business district; downtown.

   I'm going into the city today to do some shopping.

4. 4

   slangA large amount of something (used after the noun).

   It’s video game city in here!

Forms

plural

cities