metro meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

metro

noun

UK /ˈmɛtɹəʊ/ · US /ˈmɛtɹoʊ/

Etymology 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.

General A rapid transit rail transport system, or a train in such systems, generally underground and serving a metropolitan area.

He is going to the stadium by metro.
Recalling that Davide Lungo returned the van at the airport, Pizo descended the nearby stairs to the underground metro, and boarded the next metro stopping there.2000, Frederick Parkins, The NATO Opposition, →ISBN, page 27:

2 more examples

I hurry to the underground. ... I am waiting for the next metro; I'll take it.2014, Lily Sergueiew, I Worked Alone: Diary of a Double Agent in World War II Europe, →ISBN:
What we entered into here was well lit and had clean silver curvy walls that ended in nice automatic elevators that took you underground. The walls are not infested with graffiti and advertisements; they were clean and shiny. We waited on nice benches until the metro arrived.2017, Pam Taylor, 399 Days: Our European Escapade, →ISBN:

Uncommon An urban rapid transit rail transport system, normally with lighter track and light trains (i.e. an S-Bahn or similar), or a train in such systems.

Informs how long the passenger has to wait for the next metro2006, C. A. Brebbia, V. Dolezel, Urban Transport XII: Urban Transport and the Environment in the 21st Century, page 227:
With the weather clear and warm for a change, I decided to catch the next metro to the outskirts of town by myself.2008, Brandon Wilson, Along the Templar Trail: Seven Million Steps for Peace, →ISBN, page 75:

1 more example

I boarded the Yellow Line Metro, beaming with confidence. I got down at Rajiv Chowk to continue my journey towards Noida City Centre (NCC). The next metro arrived.2015, Pratyush Sinha, Love in Metro: Story of Love and Ego, →ISBN:

Derived terms: Frutiger Metro, metro aide, MetroCard, metroisation, metro station, Metro Toronto, nonmetro, premetro, semi-metro

metro

adj

Etymology Clipping of metropolitan.

metropolitan

Derived terms: Metro Vancouver
Related terms: metrosexual

metro

noun

Etymology Clipping of metropolitan.

A metropolitan area.

In an age of persistently high inequality, work in high-cost metros catering to the whims of the wealthy—grooming them, stretching them, feeding them, driving them—has become one of the fastest-growing industries. […] Relationships between the classes, once mediated through the household, are now managed through an app that serves a large metro area.2019 August 12, Derek Thompson, “America's Hot New Job Is Being a Rich Person's Servant”, in The Atlantic, archived from the original on 26 Aug 2019:
What was the least expensive of the 153 ZIP codes? 72758 (Benton County, Ark.), with a median price of $408,403. The area includes Rogers, a growing metro and home to the first Walmart store.2024 November 28, Josh Ocampo, “Expensive ZIP Codes Have Something in Common”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 01 Dec 2024: