What is a large continuous urban area formed by the merging of towns and cities called?

A large continuous urban area formed by the merging of towns and cities is called a conurbation. This term specifically refers to regions where urban development has expanded to the point that neighboring towns and cities have physically merged into one continuous urban space.

Conurbations often arise due to population growth, urban sprawl, and the development of transport links that connect various urban centers. This merging can result in a densely populated area with shared infrastructure, services, and an integrated economy.

While the terms metropolitan area and city-region are related, they can encompass broader definitions that include the surrounding suburbs and rural areas, not just the merging of urban centers. An agro-urban area typically refers to zones where agricultural activities are integrated with urban environments but does not describe the merging of multiple towns and cities into a continuous urban form.