a large area where towns have grown and joined together, often around a city (有卫星城镇的)大都市,集合城市 The region has several medium-sized towns and cities, but no major conurbations. 那个地区有几个中等规模的城镇,但没有大的都市。
Word Originearly 20th cent.: from con- ‘together’ + Latin urbs, urb- ‘city’ + -ation.