center

noun

cen·ter | \ˈsen-tər,

ˈse-nər\

Definition of center

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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 2b) polygon

2a : 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

3a : 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

4a : 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

5a : 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

center

verb

centered; centering\ˈsen-t(ə-)riŋ,

ˈse-nər-iŋ \

Definition of center (Entry 2 of 2)

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

4a : 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

Other Words from center Synonyms & Antonyms What prepositions are used with center?: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Learn More about center

Keep scrolling for more

What prepositions are used with center?: Usage Guide

Verb

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.

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

Others are staying in evacuation centers in the nearby city of Chico. — Umair Irfan, Vox, "The Paradise fire is catastrophic. And the wildfire threat to California is only growing.," 17 Nov. 2018 Restaurants are recruiting in senior centers and churches. — Leslie Patton, The Seattle Times, "Senior citizens are replacing teenagers as fast-food workers," 13 Nov. 2018 In fact, Borderless centers around a secondary character from the first book, Diana. — Cyrus Farivar, Ars Technica, "Borderless shows us the tech-fueled nightmare that we’ve all created," 8 Nov. 2018 Still, three studies in three different centers have shown positive results — using somewhat different approaches. — Rachel Becker, The Verge, "Spinal implants help treat paralysis but aren’t ready for primetime," 3 Nov. 2018 Because the stakes were so high and the world was so dangerous and people were dying left, right, and center. — Tamara Fuentes, Seventeen, "8 Questions That Need To Be Answered In 'Legacies' Season 1," 26 Oct. 2018 Randall tries yet again to get the city councilman to repair the rec center, reminding him that a lot of residents are counting on him. — Emma Dibdin, Country Living, "'This Is Us' Recap: Jack and an Adult Kate Appeared Together for the First Time and It Was Emotional," 10 Oct. 2018 In those cases, a control center in Bremen, Germany, took over for as long as three consecutive days. — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, "Antarctica Greenhouse Produces Cucumbers, Tomatoes and More in Mars-Like Test," 24 Sep. 2018 Tapered edges gently fade into the longer strands, opening at the center, and framing the face, like on Camila Cabello, up top. — Madisen Theobald, Allure, "The Top Global Hair Trends In 2018, According to Pinterest," 25 Aug. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The party quickly shifted to the left on immigration as Donald Trump launched a campaign centered on vicious anti-immigrant rhetoric and promises to remove all 11 million undocumented immigrants from the country. — Margaret Hartmann, Daily Intelligencer, "‘Abolish ICE’: The Roots of the Left’s New Immigration Rallying Cry," 26 June 2018 One is a documentary centered on life after incarceration. — Nicole Sperling, HWD, "The Filmmaker Who Discovered Jennifer Lawrence Has Found a New Star in Leave No Trace," 26 June 2018 For years, disagreements usually centered on the balance between resuscitating marshes without flooding farmland and nearby neighborhoods. — Jenny Staletovich, miamiherald, "Could raising a 90-year-old road fix South Florida's water problems?," 18 June 2018 The case against Cosby centered on testimony from Constand, a former employee with Temple University women's basketball team. — Nicole Chavez, CNN, "Bill Cosby replaces his defense team," 15 June 2018 In a split decision earlier this year, the state Supreme Court upheld the conviction and sentence after debate that centered on whether Schierman’s rights to a public trial were violated. — Paige Cornwell, The Seattle Times, "List of inmates whose sentences are changed from death row to life in prison," 12 Oct. 2018 Pruitt was ensnared in a series of controversies that centered on lavish spending, ethical lapses and his management decisions. *** Text of Pruitt’s resignation letter to Trump: ‘‘Mr. — Washington Post, BostonGlobe.com, "Read EPA head Scott Pruitt’s resignation letter," 5 July 2018 Pruitt was ensnared in a series of controversies that centered on lavish spending, ethical lapses and his management decisions. — Washington Post, chicagotribune.com, "Text of Scott Pruitt's resignation letter to Trump," 5 July 2018 Trump critics saw the inclusion of those two countries as a strategy to weaken legal challenges that centered on the claim that the ban unlawfully targeted a religious group that Trump had vowed to keep out of the country. — Laurence Arnold, Bloomberg.com, "Who's Welcome (or Not) in U.S. After Trump Ban Upheld," 27 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'center.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for center

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

Keep scrolling for more