Wiktionary

centre

See also: Centre, centré, and centrē

EnglishEdit

Alternative formsEdit

EtymologyEdit

PronunciationEdit

NounEdit

centre (plural centres)

  1. The point in the interior of a circle that is equidistant from all points on the circumference. [from 14th c.]
    • 1908, Thomas L. Heath, translating Euclid, Elements, III.9:
      If a point be taken within a circle, and more than two equal straight lines fall from the point on the circle, the point taken is the centre of the circle.
  2. The point in the interior of a sphere that is equidistant from all points on the circumference. [from 14th c.]
    • 2005, David Adam, The Guardian, 4 Jun 2005:
      Japanese scientists are to explore the centre of the Earth. Using a giant drill ship launched next month, the researchers aim to be the first to punch a hole through the rocky crust that covers our planet and to reach the mantle below.
  3. The middle portion of something; the part well away from the edges.
    • (middle portion)
      1944 November and December, A Former Pupil, “Some Memories of Crewe Works—II”, in Railway Magazine, page 343:
      So after a short spell in the brass foundry the wisest course was to follow with a similar period in the steel foundry, where much important work was done, including the manufacture of centres for wheels.
    1. (obsolete) The innermost point of the Earth, or the Earth itself, as the centre or foundation of the Universe; the centre or foundation of the Universe abstractly.
  4. (geometry) The point on a line that is midway between the ends.
  5. (geometry) The point in the interior of any figure of any number of dimensions that has as its coordinates the arithmetic mean of the coordinates of all points on the perimeter of the figure (or of all points in the interior for a centre of volume).
  6. (group theory, ring theory) The subgroup (respectively, subring), denoted Z(G), of those elements of a given group (respectively, ring) G that commute with every element of G.
  7. A place where the greater part of some function or activity occurs.
    shopping centre, convention centre, civic centre, garment centre, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Rockefeller Center
    1. A pivotal part in the political constitution of a country
      1. The ensemble of moderate or centrist political parties.
      2. The venue in which the head of government in a centralized state is situated.
        • 2018, Pál Fodor, The Business of State. Ottoman Finance Administration and Ruling Elites in Transition (1580s–1615) (Studien zur Sprache, Geschichte und Kultur der Turkvölker; 28), Berlin: Klaus Schwarz Verlag × De Gruyter, published 2020, DOI:10.1515/9783112209431, →ISBN, page 50:
          In Anatolia tensions between state officials (ehl-i örf) and the peasants were strained to breaking point.
          At several places—particularly in the frontier provinces—there were fierce clashes between the janissaries stationed there and the governors. In Aleppo and Damascus incidents were common after 1589: the kuls threw rocks at the beylerbeyi’s house, killed people, broke into the divan several times and took the money prepared by the council for remittance to the centre.
    2. A topic that is particularly important in a given context, the element in a subject of cognition, volition or discussion that is perceived as decisive.
      the centre of the controversy
      the centre of attention
  8. (sports) A player in the middle of a playing area
    1. (basketball) The player, generally the tallest, who plays closest to the basket.
    2. (ice hockey) The forward that generally plays between the left wing and right wing and usually takes the faceoffs.
    3. (American football, Canadian football) The person who holds the ball at the beginning of each play.
    4. (netball) A player who can go all over the court, except the shooting circles.
    5. (soccer) A pass played into the centre of the pitch.
      • 2010 December 28, Owen Phillips, “Sunderland 0 - 2 Blackpool”, in BBC‎[1]:
        Bent twice sent efforts wide of the far post after cutting in from the left, Wellbeck missed his kick from an inviting centre and failed to get on the end of a looping pass when six yards out.
    6. (rugby) One of the backs operating in a central area of the pitch, either the inside centre or outside centre.
      • 2011 February 4, Gareth Roberts, “Wales 19-26 England”, in BBC‎[2]:
        Gatland's side got back to within striking distance when fly-half Jones's clever pass sent centre Jonathan Davies arcing round Shontayne Hape.
  9. A certain mechanical implement functioning in the middle of a whole apparatus
    1. (architecture) A temporary structure upon which the materials of a vault or arch are supported in position until the work becomes self-supporting.
    2. (engineering) One of the two conical steel pins in a lathe, etc., upon which the work is held, and about which it revolves.
    3. (engineering) A conical recess or indentation in the end of a shaft or other work, to receive the point of a centre, on which the work can turn, as in a lathe.
    4. (Australia, New Zealand) The ring in the gambling game two-up in which the spinner operates.
  10. (Taixuanjing tetragram) 𝌆
    U+1D306, 𝌆 UNICODE TETRAGRAM FOR CENTRE

SynonymsEdit

AntonymsEdit

Derived termsEdit

TranslationsEdit

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

AdjectiveEdit

centre (not comparable)

  1. Of, at, or related to a centre.

SynonymsEdit

TranslationsEdit

VerbEdit

centre (third-person singular simple present centres, present participle centring or centreing, simple past and past participle centred)

  1. (transitive) To cause (an object) to occupy the centre of an area.
    • 1962 February, “Talking of Trains: The "Midland Pullman"”, in Modern Railways, page 77:
      One controversy which has not had an airing in discussion of the new Transport Bill is that centring on the status of the Pullman Car Co.
    • ????, Matthew Prior, Celia to Damon
      Thy joys are centred all in me alone.
    He centred the heading of the document.
  2. (transitive) To cause (some attribute, such as a mood or voltage) to be adjusted to a value which is midway between the extremes.
  3. (transitive) To give (something) a central basis.
    • 2012, Michael Kaminski et al., Myth, Media, and Culture in Star Wars: An Anthology, chapter 7, 87:
      However, Lucas also centered the plot around the protection of the secret Death Star plans, which now filled the role of the clan treasure the enemy is seeking in Hidden Fortress; […]
  4. (intransitive) To concentrate on (something), to pay close attention to (something).
    The plot centres on the life of a working-class family.
    The discussion centred around the recent issues.
  5. (engineering) To form a recess or indentation for the reception of a centre.

Usage notesEdit

The indirect object of the intransitive verb is given the prepositions on, in, at, or around. At is primary used only in mathematical contexts. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary observes that centre around is objected to by some people on the grounds that it is illogical, but states that it is an idiom, and thus that such objections are irrelevant. It offers revolve around as an alternative to centre around for those who would avoid the idiom.

Related termsEdit

TranslationsEdit

Further readingEdit

AnagramsEdit

CatalanEdit

EtymologyEdit

Borrowed from Latin centrum, from Ancient Greek κέντρον (kéntron), from κεντεῖν (kenteîn, “to prick, goad”).

PronunciationEdit

NounEdit

centre m (plural centres)

  1. center (point in the interior of a circle)
  2. center (middle portion of something)
  3. center (place where some function or activity occurs)
  4. center (topic that is particularly important)
  5. downtown (business center of a city)

Derived termsEdit

Related termsEdit

Further readingEdit

EsperantoEdit

AdverbEdit

centre

  1. centrally

FrenchEdit

EtymologyEdit

Borrowed from Latin centrum, from Ancient Greek κέντρον (kéntron, “sharp point”).

PronunciationEdit

NounEdit

centre m (plural centres)

  1. centre, center
  2. (soccer) cross, specifically one directed into the penalty area

Derived termsEdit

Related termsEdit

Further readingEdit

AnagramsEdit

PortugueseEdit

VerbEdit

centre

  1. inflection of centrar:
    1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
    2. third-person singular imperative

SpanishEdit

VerbEdit

centre

  1. inflection of centrar:
    1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
    2. third-person singular imperative
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