What is Conurbation?

Wondrous Words Wednesday

wondrous memeReady to learn a new word with me?  Visit Kathy at Bermudaonion.net for links to find more interesting words via the Wondrous Words Wednesday meme.

This weekend I drove my son to a soccer tournament in Cary, N.C., a suburb of Raleigh. On the way we passed through several cities: Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Durham.  I noticed that along I-40, one city blurred into the next; there weren’t many wide green spaces to distinguish the metro areas.

Imagine my pleasure when Merriam-Webster sent a most appropriate word of the day to my inbox to describe this phenomenon: conurbation.

conurbation \kah-ner-‘bay-shun\ noun; from the Latin con together + urbs city; an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities

This word was coined by the Scottish biologist/sociologist Sir Patrick Geddes for his book on urban planning called Cities in Evolution.

Word Nerd Workout

I also have seen conurbation in northern Virginia; the suburbs of D.C. now spread all the way to Fredericksburg, a town one hour south of the Nation’s Capital.  Where do you see conurbation, and do you have a synonym for this word?

My example: suburban sprawl.

For the truly nerdy, my use of “the Nation’s Capital” above is an example of what literary device?  (hint: review from a few weeks ago!)

Thanks for getting nerdy with me today!

Julia 

Julia Tomiak
I believe in the power of words to improve our lives, and I help people find interesting words to read. Member of SCBWI.

10 Comments

  1. Atlanta definitely has conurbation. I have to drive through there to visit my mother and it can be a nightmare. The area we live in will probably face the same thing if city officials aren’t careful.

  2. My in-laws live in Vienna, Virginia, and like you, I’ve noticed the conurbation in that area. Hope the soccer tourney went well!

  3. Alliteration?
    Southern California (Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orange County) is a huge conurbation continuing into the desert and mountain communities.

    1. Thanks Linda! I’ve driven through southern California and have seen the conurbation you describe. Great example.
      Also, yes, suburban sprawl is an example of alliteration. For the workout, I was actually wondering if anyone knows what it’s called to use the name of one thing to name something which it is associated with, i.e., “the nation’s capital” instead of “Washington, D.C.” But I’m glad you spotted that other literary device! Thanks for working out with me!

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