metropolize

Verb

metropolize (third-person singular simple present metropolizes, present participle metropolizing, simple past and past participle metropolized)

1. To urbanize; to center or focus on the city.
   • 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
   • 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
2. To develop into a city or urban area.
   • 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