metro

¹ American  

[me-troh] / ˈmɛ troʊ /

noun

(often initial capital letter)

PLURAL

metros

1. the underground electric railway of Paris, France, Montreal, Canada, Washington, D.C., and other cities.

2. subway.

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metro- ² American  

1. a combining form meaning “measure,” used in the formation of compound words.

   metronome.

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metro ³ American  

[me-troh] / ˈmɛ troʊ /

adjective

1. metropolitan.

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noun

PLURAL

metros

1. metropolis.

2. (often initial capital letter) the government or jurisdiction of a large city.

metro- ⁴ American  

1. a combining form meaning “uterus,” used in the formation of compound words.

   metrorrhagia.

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metro- ⁵ American  

1. a combining form representing metropolis or metropolitan in compound words.

   metroflight; metroland; Metroliner.

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metro- ¹ British  

combining form

1. indicating the uterus

   metrorrhagia

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metro- ² British  

combining form

1. indicating a measure

   metronome

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metro ³ British  

/ ˈmɛtrəʊ, metro /

noun

1. an underground, or largely underground, railway system in certain cities, esp in Europe, such as that in Paris

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Etymology

Origin of metro¹

1900–05; < French métro, short for chemin de fer métropolitain metropolitan railroad

Origin of metro-²

Combining form representing Greek métron measure

Origin of metro³

First recorded in 1900–05; by shortening; or independent use of metro- ³

Origin of metro-⁴

Combining form representing Greek mḗtra womb

Example Sentences

While the Bismarck metro area has more than 100 times the population of Hebron, it’s still been tough getting people out of their homes and back to the movies.

From Salon

Applying the standard affordability ratio of 31% debt to income and assuming a 3.5% down payment, the new owner would have to earn at least $100,000 in half of the 100 major metro areas.

From MarketWatch

The tower is a 46-story premium Grade-A office building in Singapore’s central business district with good access to major metro lines.

From The Wall Street Journal

The nation’s affordability crisis has genuinely impacted middle-class families, with one-third struggling to afford basic necessities such as food, housing, and childcare across 160 U.S. metro areas, according to analysis by the Brookings Institution.

From Los Angeles Times

Prices in September continued to rise in Northeastern and Midwestern metros tracked by S&P Cotality Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, and slid in Sunbelt metros like Phoenix, Dallas, and Miami.

From Barron's

Related Words

• rail line
• railway
• subway