milan

IPA/mɪˈlæn/
KK[məlˈɑn]IPA/mɪˈlɑːn/

milan — noun

1. a major European city on the flat Po plain in the northern region of Italy

1.nounA2
Definition

a major European city on the flat Po plain in the northern region of Italy

Example

Gita spent a weekend in Milan visiting the famous art galleries and museums.

collocation: in Milan

The high-speed train from Milan to Venice takes just over two hours.

Common collocations
  • fly to Milan
  • visit Milan
  • move to Milan
  • based in Milan
  • Milan airport
  • Milan cathedral

Usage Note

Always capitalized as a proper noun. Milan is the second-most-populous city in Italy, after Rome.

Common Mistakes

Milan is the capital of Italy.
Rome is the capital of Italy; Milan is the largest city in the north.
Rome, not Milan, is the national capital.

2. a city known worldwide as a place where major fashion brands, furniture designer

2.nounA2
Definition

a city known worldwide as a place where major fashion brands, furniture designers, and banks have their headquarters and present their latest work to the public

Example

Every April, fashion buyers from many countries travel to Milan for the shows.

collocation: travel to Milan for [event]

The Watanabe family visited Milan during the winter sales and bought designer handbags.

Common collocations
  • Milan fashion week
  • Milan design fair
  • fashion capital
  • business hub in Milan
  • based in Milan

Usage Note

This sense emphasizes Milan's role in fashion, design, and business. Milan Fashion Week and Milan Design Week are major international events held here twice a year.

Common Mistakes

Paris is the only fashion capital in Europe.
Both Paris and Milan are major fashion capitals, each with its own style.
Milan shares the title with Paris, London, and New York.

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • based in Milan
  • move to Milan
  • fly to Milan
  • travel to Milan

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinItalianEnglish

The name Milan comes from the Latin Mediolanum, which is thought to mean 'in the middle of the plain' (medius = middle, planum = plain). This describes the city's location at the center of the flat Po Valley in northern Italy.