ENGLISH
REFERENCE

metro

n. countable
A2 Elementary US //ˈmɛˌtɹoʊ// UK //mˈɛtɹəʊ// metro

n. an underground train system in a city. You use it to travel quickly around large urban areas.

n. an underground electric railway system in a major city. Often used with a definite article when referring to a specific city's network.


SIMPLE

I take the metro to work every morning.

CONTEXTUAL

The city is expanding the metro to reach the outer suburbs and reduce traffic congestion.

COMPLEX

Navigating the Parisian metro requires a basic understanding of the line numbers and the final destinations of each route to ensure you board the correct train.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From French métro, clipping of métropolitain (from Ancient Greek μήτηρ (mḗtēr, “mother”) + πόλις (pólis, “city”)), as in the Chemin de fer métropolitain, an early name for the Paris Métro. This name was a direct translation of "Metropolitan Railway", which was the original name of the earliest part of the London Underground, constructed in 1863.

Etymology 2

Clipping of metropolitan.

Usage

Often used with 'the' when referring to a specific city's system.

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