A relatively large and permanent settlement. Cities generally have complex systems for sanitation, utilities, land usage, housing, and transportation. The concentration of development greatly facilitates interaction between people and businesses, benefiting both parties in the process. A big city or metropolis usually has associated suburbs and exurbs. Such cities are usually associated with metropolitan areas and urban areas, creating numerous business commuters traveling to urban centers for employment. Once a city expands far enough to reach another city, this region can be deemed a conurbation or megalopolis.
Old French cite "town, city" , from earlier citet, from Latin civitatem originally "citizenship, condition or rights of a citizen, membership in the community," later "community of citizens, state, commonwealth", from civis "townsman," from PIE root kei "to lie," also forming words for "bed, couch," and with a secondary sense of "beloved, dear."
