center

1 of 2

noun

cen·​ter ˈsen-tər 

ˈse-nər

1

a

: the point around which a circle or sphere is described

broadly : a point that is related to a geometrical figure in such a way that for any point on the figure there is another point on the figure such that a straight line joining the two points is bisected by the original point

called also center of symmetry

b

: the center of the circle inscribed in a regular (see regular entry 1 sense 3b) polygon

2

a

: a point, area, person, or thing that is most important or pivotal in relation to an indicated activity, interest, or condition

a railroad center

the center of the controversy

b

: a source from which something originates

a propaganda center

c

: a group of neurons having a common function

respiratory center

d

: a region of concentrated population

an urban center

e

: a facility providing a place for a particular activity or service

a day-care center

a shopping center

a medical center

3

a

: the middle part (as of the forehead or a stage)

b often capitalized

(1)

: a grouping of political figures holding moderate views especially between those of conservatives and liberals

(2)

: the views of such politicians

The party's new policies show a shift toward the center.

(3)

: the adherents of such views

4

a

: a player occupying a middle position on a team: such as

(1)

: the football player in the middle of a line who passes the ball between his legs to a back to start a down

(2)

: the usually tallest player on a basketball team who usually plays near the basket

b

: center field

5

a

: either of two tapered rods which support work in a lathe or grinding machine and about or with which the work revolves

b

: a conical recess in the end of work (such as a shaft) for receiving such a center

centerless

ˈsen-tər-ləs 

ˈse-nər-

adjective

center

2 of 2

verb

centered; centering ˈsen-t(ə-)riŋ 

ˈse-nər-iŋ

transitive verb

1

: to place or fix at or around a center or central area

center the picture on the wall

2

: to give a central focus or basis

centers her hopes on her son

the plot was centered on espionage

3

: to adjust (things, such as lenses) so that the axes coincide

4

a

: to pass (a ball or puck) from either side toward the middle of the playing area

b

: to hand or pass (a football) backward between one's legs to a back (see back entry 1 sense 3) to start a down

5

: to play center (see center entry 1 sense 4) on

center a line in hockey

intransitive verb

: to have a specified center : focus

What prepositions are used with center?: Usage Guide

The intransitive verb center is most commonly used with the prepositions in, on, at, and around. At appears to be favored in mathematical contexts; the others are found in a broad range of contexts. Center around, a standard idiom, has often been objected to as illogical. The logic on which the objections are based is irrelevant, since center around is an idiom and idioms have their own logic. Center on is currently more common in edited prose, and revolve around and similar verbs are available if you want to avoid center around.

Synonyms

Noun

• axis
• base
• capital
• central
• core
• cynosure
• epicenter
• eye
• focus
• ground zero
• heart
• hub
• locus
• mecca
• navel
• nerve center
• nexus
• nucleus
• omphalos
• seat

Verb

• centralize
• compact
• concenter
• concentrate
• consolidate
• polarize
• unify
• unite

Examples of center in a Sentence

Noun

the center of the room

The staircase is in the center of the building.

They are at the center of a furious debate over whether or not to expand the city's public transportation system.

The vaccine is being tested at several medical centers around the country.

Verb

Center the picture on the wall.

centered administrative duties under the command of a single person

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Parts of New Jersey that had once been centers of manufacturing, shipyards and shipping, among other industries, have since be redeveloped into upper middle-class residential units, catering to white-collar tertiary sector jobs. —Andrew Depietro, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Globally: The International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide have contact information for crisis centers around the world. —Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 22 Oct. 2024

Verb

Getty Images Boeing machinists voted 64% against a new labor deal that included 35% wage increases over four years, their union said Wednesday, extending a more than five-week strike that has halted most of the company’s aircraft production, which is centered in the Seattle area. —Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2024

With these networks came e-mail, and with e-mail came a new approach to work centered on ongoing, ad-hoc, back-and-forth interactions that unfolded through sterile digital text. —Cal Newport, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English centre, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin centrum "point of the stationary leg of a pair of compasses, midpoint of a circle or sphere," borrowed from Greek kéntron "sting, goad, point, stationary point of a pair of compasses, midpoint of a circle or sphere," probably reshaping (after the base verb kenteîn) of késtron "toothed implement, name for several nettle-like plants," from kentéō, kenteîn "to sting, goad, prick" (going back to Indo-European *ḱent-, *ḱnt- "sting, prick," whence Old High German hantag "pointed," Latvian sīts "hunting spear") + -tron, suffix of instruments

Verb

derivative of center entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1555, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing center

• at the center of things
• center field
• center forward
• center ice
• center of attention
• center of curvature
• center of excellence
• center of gravity
• center of mass
• center of someone's universe
• center of symmetry
• center punch
• center stage
• chiral center
• civic center
• community center
• convention center
• dead center
• detention center
• front and center
• left of center
• medical center
• nerve center
• off-center
• profit center
• right of center
• shopping center
• take center stage
• the center of attention
• trauma center

Kids Definition

center

1 of 2 noun

cen·​ter ˈsent-ər 

1

: the point inside a circle or sphere that is an equal distance from all the points on the edge

2

a

: a place in or around which an activity takes place or from which something begins

the center of the scandal

b

: a place for a particular activity or service

a day-care center

c

: a group of neurons that have a common purpose

respiratory center

3

: the middle part (as of a stage)

4

: a player occupying a middle position on a team

center

2 of 2 verb

centered; centering ˈsent-ə-riŋ 

ˈsen-triŋ

1

: to place or fix at or around a center or central area

2

: to give a central focus

the story is centered on his adventures

3

: to collect at or around a center

Medical Definition

center

noun

cen·​ter

variants or chiefly British centre

ˈsent-ər 

: a group of nerve cells having a common function

the brain stem's respiratory center

called also nerve center