Dictionary

metropolize en · VERB

Etymology

From metropolis + -ize.

Meanings

1. To urbanize; to center or focus on the city.
   • Walpole's efforts to metropolize British politics (focusing his attentions upon the greater business of state) allowed, indeed encouraged, the development of parallel cultures of extra-urban political activity, predicated upon clientage and local connections. 2014, Andrew D. M. Beaumont, Colonial America and the Earl of Halifax, 1748-1761, page 16:
   • Globalization influences the factors that determine economic growth as well. This study focusses on the causes of the urbanization process and its effects, including those that regionalize and metropolize a growing share of economic activity. 2003, Richard G. Harris, North American Linkages: Opportunities and Challenges for Canada:
   • Thus, the major issue in current communication policy revolves around the tendency of new communications technologies to centralize and metropolize sources of information. 1987, Telecommunications Abstracts, page 14:
2. To develop into a city or urban area.
   • I only ask that you not call us lazy, unless by that you mean we are not doing our part to help metropolize every last foot of wetland and old-growth forest. 1997, South Carolina Wildlife - Volume 44, page 7:
   • Spoon River, like towns in all parts of the country, has become a standardized community, a "metropolized" town. 1959, Ima Honaker Herron, The small town in American literature, page 364:
   • Because of its rapid and recent growth this newly metropolized area was particularly hard hit by the demise of ambulance services. 1967, Today's Health - Volume 45, Issues 1-6, page 26:
3. (obsolete) To visit the city.
   • Where is that real Real* Devil, in, or out of London, — Jo. Parkes ? If he metropolizes, tell him he ought to come hither. 1866, American Journal of Numismatics - Volumes 1-3, page 4:
   • Nine days after this, under date of March 17, Lord Byron says, “We mean to metropolize to-morrow, and you will address your next to Piccadilly.” 1870, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Lady Byron Vindicated: A History of the Byron Controversy, page 176:

Forms