Center Definition
center
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English
Alternative forms
- centre (UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand)
Etymology
From Middle French centre, from Latin centrum, from Ancient Greek κέντρον (kéntron), from κεντεῖν (“to prick, goad”).
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA: /ˈsɛn.tə/, SAMPA: /"sEnt@/
- (US) IPA: /ˈsɛn.(t)ɚ/, SAMPA: /"sEnt@`/, /"sEn@`/
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Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɛntə(r)
Noun
center (plural centers)
- The point in the interior of a circle or sphere that is equidistant from all points on the circumference. [from 14th c.]
- 1908, Thomas L. Heath, translating Euclid, Elements, III.9:
- If a point be taken within a circle, and more than two equal straight lines fall from the point on the circle, the point taken is the centre of the circle.
- 2005, David Adam, The Guardian, 4 Jun 2005:
- Japanese scientists are to explore the centre of the Earth. Using a giant drill ship launched next month, the researchers aim to be the first to punch a hole through the rocky crust that covers our planet and to reach the mantle below.
- 1908, Thomas L. Heath, translating Euclid, Elements, III.9:
- The middle portion of something; the part well away from the edges.
- (geometry) The point on a line that is midway between the ends.
- (geometry) The point in the interior of any figure of any number of dimensions that has as its coordinates the arithmetic mean of the coordinates of all points on the perimeter of the figure (or of all points in the interior for a center of volume).
- A place where some function or activity occurs.
- shopping center
- convention center
- A topic that is particularly important in a given context.
- the center of the controversy
- the center of attention
- (basketball) The player, generally the tallest, who plays closest to the basket.
- (ice hockey) The forward that generally plays between the left wing and right wing and usually takes the faceoffs.
- (American football) The person who holds the ball at the beginning of each play.
- (Canadian football) The person who holds the ball at the beginning of each play.
- (netball) A player who can go all over the court, except the shooting circles.
- (soccer) A pass played into the centre of the pitch.
- 2010 December 28, Owen Phillips, “Sunderland 0 - 2 Blackpool”, BBC:
- Bent twice sent efforts wide of the far post after cutting in from the left, Wellbeck missed his kick from an inviting centre and failed to get on the end of a looping pass when six yards out.
- 2010 December 28, Owen Phillips, “Sunderland 0 - 2 Blackpool”, BBC:
- (rugby) One of the backs operating in a central area of the pitch, either the inside centre or outside centre.
- 2011 February 4, Gareth Roberts, “Wales 19-26 England”, BBC:
- Gatland's side got back to within striking distance when fly-half Jones's clever pass sent centre Jonathan Davies arcing round Shontayne Hape.
- 2011 February 4, Gareth Roberts, “Wales 19-26 England”, BBC:
Synonyms
- (point on a line midway between the ends): midpoint
- (point in the interior of figure with mean coordinates): centroid, center of gravity, center of mass
Antonyms
Derived terms
- center of attention
- centerpiece
- community center
- music center
- shopping center
Adjective
center (not comparable)
- Of, at, or related to a center.
Synonyms
Translations
of, at or related to center
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Verb
center (third-person singular simple present centers, present participle centering, simple past and past participle centered)
- (transitive) To cause (an object) to occupy the center of an area.
- (transitive) To cause (some attribute, such as a mood or voltage) to be adjusted to a value which is midway between the extremes.
- (intransitive) To concentrate on (something), to pay close attention to (something).
Translations
cause to occupy the center
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Related terms
Usage notes
The spelling centre is standard in UK English. In Canada it is typical in proper names, e.g. Toronto Centre for the Arts, but "center" is also commonly used otherwise, e.g. shopping center, center of town. Both spellings can be encountered even in the same text, e.g. in NHL hockey where there are many Canadian and US teams, reference might be made to the "center" forward position and a "centre" where a game is played.
The indirect object of the intransitive verb is given the prepositions on, in, at, or around. At is primary used only in mathematical contexts.
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary observes that center around is objected to by some people on the grounds that it is illogical, but states that it is an idiom, and thus that such objections are irrelevant. It offers revolve around as an alternative to center around for those who would avoid the idiom.
External links
- center in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- center in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- center at OneLook Dictionary Search
Anagrams
Swedish
Noun
center n. and c.
- n. a centre; a place where some function or activity occurs; see also centrum
- c. (uncountable, politics) the political centre, parties and politicians in between the left and right wings
- c. (sports) a centre; midplayer of a team
Declension
Declension of center 1| singular | plural | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neuter | indefinite | definite | indefinite | definite |
| nominative | center | centret | center | centren |
| genitive | centers | centrets | centers | centrens |
| uncountable | uncountable | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common | indefinite | definite | ||
| nominative | center | centern | ||
| genitive | centers | centerns | ||
| singular | plural | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common | indefinite | definite | indefinite | definite |
| nominative | center | centern | centrar | centrarna |
| genitive | centers | centerns | centrars | centrarnas |
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