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cen·ter | \ ˈsen-tər 
, ˈse-nər \
, 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 3b) 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
verbcentered; centering\ ˈsen-t(ə-)riŋ , ˈse-nər-iŋ \
, ˈse-nər-iŋ \Definition of center (Entry 2 of 2)
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
: to have a specified center : focus
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Other Words from center
Noun
centerless \ ˈsen-tər-ləs , ˈse-nər- \ adjective
, ˈse-nər- \ adjectiveSynonyms & Antonyms for center
Synonyms: Noun
- axis,
- base,
- capital,
- central,
- core,
- cynosure,
- epicenter,
- eye,
- focus,
- ground zero,
- heart,
- hub,
- locus,
- mecca,
- navel,
- nerve center,
- nexus,
- nucleus,
- omphalos,
- seat
Synonyms: Verb
Antonyms: Verb
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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 Many of Nifla’s member centers are religious, as are the other two plaintiffs in the suit against New York—CompassCare pregnancy services and First Bible Baptist Church.
—
Nicole Ault, WSJ, "New York Tries Again to Muzzle Pro-Life Groups," 17 Jan. 2020 But late last year the highly respected institution Johns Hopkins University—the U.S.’s oldest research university—launched a dedicated center for psychedelic studies, the first of its kind in the country and perhaps the world’s largest.
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Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, "Johns Hopkins Scientists Give Psychedelics the Serious Treatment," 16 Jan. 2020 During the tour, the team convinced three homeless people to take a bed in the center.
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Dominic Fracassa, SFChronicle.com, "S.F. mayor poised to meet 1,000-shelter-bed goal with deal for Navigation Center," 15 Jan. 2020 The collapse took place on a busy main street in the city center of Xining, the provincial capital and largest city in the far northwestern province of Qinghai.
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Nectar Gan, CNN, "Enormous sinkhole swallows bus and passengers in China, killing at least 6 people," 14 Jan. 2020 Polling was used to determine where the participants will stand on stage, with the best-polling candidates in the center and the lower polling candidates fanning out to the sides.
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Dareh Gregorian, NBC News, "January Democratic debate: Everything you need to know," 14 Jan. 2020 Saudi Arabia’s capital of Riyadh is clearly visible in the center of the country.
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Daniel Wolfe, Quartz, "Where nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 300-times stronger than CO2, is being emitted," 14 Jan. 2020 Fold the top of the fabric over the cushion, and staple it once in the center.
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Country Living Staff, Country Living, "How To Reupholster a Chair so It Looks Just as Pretty As When You Bought It," 10 Jan. 2020 So is a large park in the center of the city, just outside the French Quarter.
—
Nicholas Frankovich, National Review, "Satchmo’s Smile," 9 Jan. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Addressing a global conference in the Indian capital to discuss the most challenging issues facing the world community, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Asia-Pacific cooperation until now was centered on Southeast Asia.
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Washington Post, "Russia says US Indo-Pacific strategy is to contain China," 15 Jan. 2020 The largest of these, centered on the Pebble mine debate, seems ill-informed about that situation.
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Nancy Lord, Anchorage Daily News, "How one man’s passion for fly-fishing led to protecting Russian salmon rivers," 12 Jan. 2020 The Dallas Fed study focused on the short-term impact of the tax cuts, but much of the criticism of the law centers on its long-term effects.
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Dallas News, "The rich get richer: Trump’s tax cuts have boosted Texas and its high earners," 7 Jan. 2020 Some inside the prison told Skinner-Holmes to check in on her son, who is housed in Unit 29, where much of the violence has centered.
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Luke Ramseth, USA TODAY, "'Gangs are at war': Fifth Mississippi prison death reported as violence continues," 3 Jan. 2020 Schofield and Blake are stoic protagonists, and though MacKay does particularly well shouldering the burden of having the action constantly centered on him, there isn’t a lot of depth to either soldier.
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David Sims, The Atlantic, "1917 Is a Visual Feat. That Doesn’t Mean It’s a Good Movie.," 3 Jan. 2020 Biden, stressing at every stop his work with former president Obama, has centered his campaign on his claim to having the best shot of beating President Trump.
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BostonGlobe.com, "But Buttigieg struggles to win over the young. That’s Bernie country. The oldest candidate in the race, the determinedly crotchety 78-year-old Senator Sanders, is a hit with the youngest voters tracking the 2020 campaign.," 15 Dec. 2019 The report comes as Trump faces an impeachment inquiry in Congress centered on his efforts to press Ukraine to investigate a political rival, Democrat Joe Biden — a probe the president also claims is politically biased.
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Eric Tucker And Michael Balsamo, chicagotribune.com, "Highly anticipated watchdog report on Russia investigation to be released today," 9 Dec. 2019 Government officials have cast the demonstrations as primarily centered on economic issues, arguing that vast inequality in Hong Kong has exacerbated anger among the city’s youth.
—
Javier C. Hernández, New York Times, "Hong Kong Protest, Largest in Weeks, Stretches Several Miles," 7 Dec. 2019
See MoreThese 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.
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Dictionary Entries near center
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Last Updated
20 Jan 2020
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Center.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/center. Accessed 23 January 2020.
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More Definitions for center
center
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of center
(Entry 1 of 2)
: the middle point or part of something
: a person or thing that is causing a lot of interest, argument, etc.
: the position of a person or thing that is causing a lot of interest, argument, etc.
center
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of center (Entry 2 of 2)
: to place (something) in the middle of something
: to be mainly concerned about or involved with someone or something
: to cause (something) to be mainly concerned about or involved with something
See the full definition for center in the English Language Learners Dictionary
center
nouncen·ter | \ ˈsen-tər \
\Kids Definition of center
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : the middle part of something
the center of a room
2 : a person or thing characterized by a particular concentration or activity
She likes to be the center of attention.
3 : a place used for a particular purpose
day care center
4 : the middle point of a circle or a sphere equally distant from every point on the circumference or surface
5 : a player occupying a middle position on a basketball, football, hockey, lacrosse, or soccer team
center
verbcentered; centering
Kids Definition of center (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to place or fix at or around a center or central area
Can you center the picture on the wall?
2 : to collect or concentrate at or around one point, group, or person
His life centers around his family.
center
nouncen·ter
variants:
or chiefly British centre \ ˈsent-ər \
\Medical Definition of center
: a group of nerve cells having a common function
the brain stem's respiratory center
— called also nerve center
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Time Traveler for center
The first known use of center was in the 14th century
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