metropolize

metropolis +‎ -ize

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.
   • 1987, Telecommunications Abstracts, page 14:

     Thus, the major issue in current communication policy revolves around the tendency of new communications technologies to centralize and metropolize sources of information.

   • 2003, Richard G. Harris, North American Linkages: Opportunities and Challenges for Canada:

     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.

   • 2014, Andrew D. M. Beaumont, Colonial America and the Earl of Halifax, 1748-1761, page 16:

     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.

2. To develop into a city or urban area.
   • 1959, Ima Honaker Herron, The small town in American literature, page 364:

     Spoon River, like towns in all parts of the country, has become a standardized community, a "metropolized" town.

   • 1967, Today's Health - Volume 45, Issues 1-6, page 26:

     Because of its rapid and recent growth this newly metropolized area was particularly hard hit by the demise of ambulance services.

   • 1997, South Carolina Wildlife - Volume 44, page 7:

     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.

3. (obsolete) To visit the city.
   • 1866, American Journal of Numismatics - Volumes 1-3, page 4:

     Where is that real Real* Devil, in, or out of London, — Jo. Parkes ? If he metropolizes, tell him he ought to come hither.

   • 1870, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Lady Byron Vindicated: A History of the Byron Controversy, page 176:

     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.”