conurbation

From Latin con- (“together”) + urbs (“city”). Coined by Sir Patrick Geddes in 1915.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌkɒnəˈbeɪʃən/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌkɑnɚˈbeɪʃən/

• Audio (US)

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  Rhymes: -eɪʃən

conurbation (plural conurbations)

1. A continuous aggregation of built-up urban communities created as a result of urban sprawl.

A Dictionary of Geography distinguishes between uninuclear conurbations (conurbations which have developed around one urban area) and polynuclear conurbations (conurbations which have developed from the aggregation of several urban areas).

• 2005, Ed. Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson, The Oxford Dictionary of English (2nd edition revised), Oxford University Press, ISBN 0198610572
• 2005, John Scott and Gordon Marshall, A Dictionary of Sociology, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0198609876
• 2004, Susan Mayhew, A Dictionary of Geography, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0198606737