what is it called when cities spread surrounding areas????
megalopolis
Yes. Suburbs and exurbs are also good words to describe it.
"urban sprawl" is another way to describe it.
Ah yes -- I couldn't think of urban sprawl!
The process of cities spreading and expanding to encompass surrounding areas is known as urban sprawl. Urban sprawl refers to the outward growth of cities, typically characterized by the development of suburbs and the conversion of rural or undeveloped land into urban use.
To find the answer to your question, you could have searched for terms like "expansion of cities to surrounding areas" or "process of cities spreading." This would have led you to the term "urban sprawl," which describes and identifies this phenomenon. Additionally, you can find more detailed information about urban sprawl by referring to books, articles, or academic papers on urban development and planning.