metropolis

noun4

1. •
   A large, busy city, especially as the main city in an area or country or as distinguished from surrounding rural areas.

   • An immense metropolis, like London, is calculated to make men selfish and uninteresting. — 1819
2. •
   The mother (founding) polis (city state) of a colony.

   • Colonies certainly did not become "clones" of their metropolises, but it is equally false that their colonial heritages were not influenced by the organization of the metropolises. — 2010
3. •
   The see of a metropolitan bishop, ranking above its suffragan diocesan bishops.
4. •
   A generic focus in the distribution of plants or animals.

noun1

1. •
   (old-fashioned) Nickname for London: the capital city of the United Kingdom; the capital city of England, within Greater London.

   • The journey from our town to the metropolis, was a journey of about five hours. — 1860