core city

Meanings

1. 1nouncountabletechnical

   The main central city of a metropolitan region, around which surrounding towns and suburbs are organized.

   Grammar: Countable: a core city, the core cities of the region.

   Patterns

   • core city of something

   The core city of the region provides jobs for the suburbs.

   Many commuters travel into the core city each morning.

   The core city has a larger population than any surrounding town.

2. 2nouncountableBritishspecialist

   One of a group of the largest English cities outside London that work together on economic policy.

   Grammar: Often capitalized and plural: the Core Cities.

   Patterns

   • one of the core cities

   Manchester is one of the core cities.

   The core cities asked the government for more funding.

   Leaders of the core cities met to discuss transport.

Word forms

Common combinations

revive the core city

The plan aims to revive the core city.

suburbs of the core city

The suburbs of the core city are growing.

core city region

The core city region includes ten towns.

population of the core city

The population of the core city fell slightly.

leave the core city

Many families leave the core city for cheaper housing.

Synonyms and how they differ

central city

Central city is a nearly identical urban studies term, mostly used in the US.

main city

Main city is plain and everyday, while core city is more technical.

metropolis

Metropolis simply means a very large city and does not stress being central to a region.

Opposites

Word family

core noun

the central part of something

city noun

a large and important town

urban adjective

relating to cities

metropolitan adjective

relating to a large city and its surroundings

Commonly confused: core city or inner city?

Practice

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