ETYM Latin suburbium; sub under, below, near + urbs a city. Related to Urban.
A residential district located on the outskirts of a city; SYN. suburbia, suburban area.<br /> Outer part of an urban area. Suburbs generally consist of residential housing and shops of a low order (newsagent, small supermarket; see hierarchy), which act as central places for the local community. Often, suburbs are the most recent growth of an urban area, and their end marks the urban fringe. Their growth may result in urban sprawl.