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

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Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Coffey has long arms and coaches’ trust to rebound and defend centers up to shooting guards. —Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 23 Nov. 2023

More than 100,000 people engage in telecom fraud each day in at least 1,000 scam centers in Myanmar, which shares a border with southwest China, Chinese state media has reported. —Reuters, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2023

Fold and pleat the border up and around the carrots, leaving the center open. —The View, ABC News, 22 Nov. 2023

It’s made with a baffle box construction, which allows the fill to create little puffs in the center. —Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2023

Bake at 350°F for 45 to 55 minutes until center is almost set. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2023

Even the most personable artist depicts an outsized version of themselves as the center of the universe. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2023

Rentals Skis and snowboards for adults and kids can be rented from the on-site rental center. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 22 Nov. 2023

Israel has said Hamas runs a key command center underneath the hospital, and Israeli troops inside Gaza City are now about one mile from the hospital complex, raising fears among Gazans that the hospital will be attacked and prompting an evacuation of the majority of people on Friday. —Chao Deng, WSJ, 11 Nov. 2023

Verb

With the exact nature of the dispute unclear, speculation has largely centered around comments Hall and Oates have recently made about their relationship in the press. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2023

The talks from Saturday through Tuesday centered on how to create a board that everyone could trust. —Kevin Roose, New York Times, 22 Nov. 2023

Much of the riot’s destruction was centered in Koreatown, where tensions between the Black and Korean communities were already high after a Korean shopkeeper shot and killed a Black teenage girl in 1991 but received no prison time. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Nov. 2023

The military activity is centered on a facility that Israeli armed forces said earlier this month was built on top of underground Hamas outposts that were present in 2010. —Omar Abdel-Baqui and Chao Deng, WSJ, 20 Nov. 2023

The series centers on a family with deep roots in New York law enforcement. —Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2023

And Alison Roman’s cooking always centers her own pleasures. —Emily Heil, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023

The 10-by-8-inch work is part of a diptych made up of eight scenes centered on the passion and crucifixion of Christ. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 17 Nov. 2023

The other option for a lineup change could’ve been centered on Rui Hachimura, who again played well in his second game back from a concussion. —Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2023

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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

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

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

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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