City & Urban life

20 words

1. 1

   transitnoun/ˈtrænsɪt/

   the system or act of moving people or goods from one place to another, often used for public transport networks.

   “Investing in reliable transit can reduce car dependency in suburbs.”

2. 2

   greenbeltnoun/ˈɡriːnbelt/

   an area of open land around a city where development is restricted to prevent urban sprawl.

   “Local farmers opposed plans to build on the greenbelt.”

3. 3

   affordabilitynoun/əˌfɔːdəˈbɪləti/

   the extent to which people can afford the cost of something, especially housing

   “Rising house prices have hit the affordability of homes for first‑time buyers.”

4. 4

   mixed-useadjective/ˌmɪkstˈjuːs/

   combining residential, commercial and/or other uses in the same building or area

   “The new development is mixed-use, with shops on the ground floor and flats above.”

5. 5

   commuternoun/kəˈmjuːtə/

   a person who regularly travels between home and work, especially by public transport

   “Many commuters prefer to read on the train during their journey.”

6. 6

   subsidynoun/ˈsʌbsɪdi/

   financial support from the government or an organisation given to reduce the cost of a service or support an industry.

   “The council provides a subsidy for bus fares to help low-income residents.”

7. 7

   walkableadjective/ˈwɔːkəbl/

   easy and safe to get around on foot

   “The university campus is very walkable, so most students don't need a car.”

8. 8

   regenerationnoun/rɪˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/

   the process of improving and renewing a run‑down urban area, including social and economic aspects

   “The regeneration of the waterfront created jobs and new leisure spaces.”

9. 9

   preservationnoun/ˌprɛzəˈveɪʃ(ə)n/

   the act of keeping something in its original state, especially historic buildings or the environment

   “Local groups campaigned for the preservation of the old market hall.”

10. 10

    walkabilitynoun/ˌwɔːkəˈbɪlɪti/

    how easy, safe and pleasant it is to walk around an area

    “High walkability makes daily life easier and reduces car use.”

11. 11

    infillnoun/ˈɪn.fɪl/

    development that fills gaps on small vacant plots within an existing urban area

    “The council encourages infill to make better use of underused land in established neighbourhoods.”

12. 12

    densificationnoun/ˌdɛnsɪfɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/

    the process of increasing population or building density in an urban area

    “Densification of inner‑city neighbourhoods can reduce sprawl and commuting times.”

13. 13

    placemakingnoun/ˈpleɪsmeɪkɪŋ/

    the process of planning, designing and managing public spaces to make them attractive and useful to people.

    “Successful placemaking often involves local residents in decision-making.”

14. 14

    land-usenoun/ˈlændˌjuːs/

    the purposes for which land is designated or used (residential, commercial, industrial, etc.)

    “Changes in land-use from agricultural to residential caused controversy in the town.”

15. 15

    retrofittingnoun/gerund/ˌretrəʊˈfɪtɪŋ/

    the process of adding new technology or features to older buildings or systems, often to improve energy efficiency

    “The programme funds retrofitting measures such as insulation and efficient boilers.”

16. 16

    peripherynoun/pəˈrɪfəri/

    the outer edge or boundary of an area, especially the outer area of a city.

    “Industrial zones are often located on the periphery of cities.”

17. 17

    arterialadjective/ɑːˈtɪəriəl/

    relating to the main roads that carry large volumes of traffic through a city or region

    “The city widened several arterial roads to ease rush-hour congestion.”

18. 18

    conurbationnoun/ˌkɒn.əˈbeɪ.ʃən/

    a large continuous urban area formed when several towns and cities grow and merge

    “The coastal conurbation now stretches for over 50 kilometres.”

19. 19

    streetscapenoun/ˈstriːtskeɪp/

    the overall visual appearance and features of a street, including buildings, trees and street furniture.

    “The council improved the streetscape by widening pavements and planting trees.”

20. 20

    permeabilitynoun/ˌpɜː.mɪ.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/

    the ease with which people can move through a street network or between places, especially on foot

    “High permeability in a street layout encourages walking and short trips.”