1 cen·ter (US) or Brit cen·tre
Pronounced:
/ˈsɛntɚ/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural cen·tersMeaning:
1 [count] : the middle point or part of something ▪ the center of the room/circle ▪ The candies have a soft center. [=middle] ▪ The staircase is in the center of the building. —often used before another noun ▪ the center aisle/lane
2 [singular] a : a person or thing that is causing a lot of interest, argument, etc. ▪ The proposed memorial has become a center of controversy. [=there is a lot of controversy about the proposed memorial] ▪ He likes to be the center of attention. [=he likes to be noticed and watched by many people] b : the position of a person or thing that is causing a lot of interest, argument, etc. ▪ They are at the center of a furious debate over whether or not to expand the city's public transportation system. ◊If you are at the center of things, you are closely involved in things that are happening. ▪ He always likes to be at the center of things.
3 [count] : a building or set of buildings used by the people of a city, town, area, etc., for a particular purpose ▪ a communications/conference center ▪ a day-care center ▪ The vaccine is being tested at several medical centers around the country. —see also community center
4 [count] : a place where a particular activity happens ▪ the financial/business/cultural center of the city ▪ The university is becoming a center of excellence for genetic engineering. [=becoming a place where genetic engineering is done very well] —see also nerve center, shopping center
5 [count] : an area where many people live ▪ a population/urban center
6 [count] : the main part of a town or city where there are many stores, restaurants, offices, etc. ▪ the town/city center ▪ efforts to rebuild the city's center [=downtown]
7 [singular] : the political position of people who support ideas that are not extreme : a moderate political position between the positions of people who are conservative and liberal ▪ The party's new policies show a shift toward the center. ▪ His political views are slightly right/left of center. [=are slightly conservative/liberal]
8 [count] sports : someone who plays a middle position on a team in sports like basketball, hockey, football, and soccer
2 [singular] a : a person or thing that is causing a lot of interest, argument, etc. ▪ The proposed memorial has become a center of controversy. [=there is a lot of controversy about the proposed memorial] ▪ He likes to be the center of attention. [=he likes to be noticed and watched by many people] b : the position of a person or thing that is causing a lot of interest, argument, etc. ▪ They are at the center of a furious debate over whether or not to expand the city's public transportation system. ◊If you are at the center of things, you are closely involved in things that are happening. ▪ He always likes to be at the center of things.
3 [count] : a building or set of buildings used by the people of a city, town, area, etc., for a particular purpose ▪ a communications/conference center ▪ a day-care center ▪ The vaccine is being tested at several medical centers around the country. —see also community center
4 [count] : a place where a particular activity happens ▪ the financial/business/cultural center of the city ▪ The university is becoming a center of excellence for genetic engineering. [=becoming a place where genetic engineering is done very well] —see also nerve center, shopping center
5 [count] : an area where many people live ▪ a population/urban center
6 [count] : the main part of a town or city where there are many stores, restaurants, offices, etc. ▪ the town/city center ▪ efforts to rebuild the city's center [=downtown]
7 [singular] : the political position of people who support ideas that are not extreme : a moderate political position between the positions of people who are conservative and liberal ▪ The party's new policies show a shift toward the center. ▪ His political views are slightly right/left of center. [=are slightly conservative/liberal]
8 [count] sports : someone who plays a middle position on a team in sports like basketball, hockey, football, and soccer
front and center —see 2front
left, right, and centre —see 2left