What does "center" mean?
The point in the interior of a circle that is equidistant from all points on the circumference.
Center
/ˈsɛn.(t)ɚ/ adj, name, noun, verb
adj, name, noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The point in the interior of a circle that is equidistant from all points on the circumference.
- Grammar: center is listed as adj, name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: middle, midpoint, core, heart.
- Useful contrasts: lateraled, left, noncentral force component.
- Usage evidence: The tourist information center gave a city map to whoever asked it.
How to use "center"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "center" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "center" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "center" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "center" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "center" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "middle" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "center", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The point in the interior of a circle that is equidistant from all points on the circumference. Canada, US, alternative
"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 a position on a basketball team of the player who participates in the jump that starts the game wordnet
- 3 The point in the interior of a sphere that is equidistant from all points on the circumference. Canada, US, alternative
"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."
- 4 (American football) the position of the player on the line of scrimmage who puts the ball in play wordnet
- 5 The middle portion of something; the part well away from the edges. Canada, US, alternative
Show 35 more definitions
- 6 the position on a hockey team of the player who participates in the face off at the beginning of the game wordnet
- 7 The middle portion of something; the part well away from the edges.; The innermost point of the Earth, or the Earth itself, as the center or foundation of the Universe; the center or foundation of the Universe abstractly. Canada, US, alternative, obsolete
"[...] their portion set As far remov'd from God and light of Heav'n As from the Center thrice to th'utmost Pole."
- 8 a building dedicated to a particular activity wordnet
- 9 The point on a line that is midway between the ends. Canada, US, alternative
- 10 the piece of ground in the outfield directly ahead of the catcher wordnet
- 11 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 center of volume). Canada, US, alternative
"The centroid is one of the centres of a triangle"
- 12 mercantile establishment consisting of a carefully landscaped complex of shops representing leading merchandisers; usually includes restaurants and a convenient parking area; a modern version of the traditional marketplace wordnet
- 13 A point on a triangle's plane that is in some sense in its middle. Canada, US, alternative
"There are several centers of a triangle such as its circumcenter, incenter, orthocenter and centroid."
- 14 a cluster of nerve cells governing a specific bodily process wordnet
- 15 A place, especially a building or complex, set aside for some specified function or activity. Canada, US, alternative
"shopping center, convention center, civic center, garment center, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Rockefeller Center"
- 16 the object upon which interest and attention focuses wordnet
- 17 The ensemble of moderate or centrist political parties. Canada, US, alternative
- 18 the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience wordnet
- 19 The venue in which the head of government in a centralized state is situated. Canada, US, alternative
"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."
- 20 the sweet central portion of a piece of candy that is enclosed in chocolate or some other covering wordnet
- 21 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. Canada, US, alternative
"the center of the controversy"
- 22 politically moderate persons; centrists wordnet
- 23 A player in the middle of a playing area.; The player, generally the tallest, who plays closest to the basket. Canada, US, alternative
- 24 the middle of a military or naval formation wordnet
- 25 A player in the middle of a playing area.; The forward that generally plays between the left wing and right wing and usually takes the faceoffs. Canada, US, alternative
- 26 a place where some particular activity is concentrated wordnet
- 27 A player in the middle of a playing area.; The person who holds the ball at the beginning of each play. Canada, Canadian, US, alternative
- 28 a point equidistant from the ends of a line or the extremities of a figure wordnet
- 29 A player in the middle of a playing area.; A player who can go all over the court, except the shooting circles. Canada, US, alternative
- 30 an area that is approximately central within some larger region wordnet
- 31 A player in the middle of a playing area.; A pass played into the centre of the pitch. Canada, US, alternative
"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."
- 32 (football) the person who plays center on the line of scrimmage and snaps the ball to the quarterback wordnet
- 33 A player in the middle of a playing area.; One of the backs operating in a central area of the pitch, either the inside centre or outside centre. Canada, US, alternative
"Gatland's side got back to within striking distance when fly-half Jones's clever pass sent centre Jonathan Davies arcing round Shontayne Hape."
- 34 (basketball) the person who plays center on a basketball team wordnet
- 35 A certain mechanical implement functioning in the middle of a whole apparatus; A temporary structure upon which the materials of a vault or arch are supported in position until the work becomes self-supporting. Canada, US, alternative
- 36 (ice hockey) the person who plays center on a hockey team wordnet
- 37 A certain mechanical implement functioning in the middle of a whole apparatus; One of the two conical steel pins in a lathe, etc., upon which the work is held, and about which it revolves. Canada, US, alternative
- 38 A certain mechanical implement functioning in the middle of a whole apparatus; A conical recess or indentation in the end of a shaft or other work, to receive the point of a center, on which the work can turn, as in a lathe. Canada, US, alternative
- 39 A certain mechanical implement functioning in the middle of a whole apparatus; The ring in the gambling game two-up in which the spinner operates. Australia, Canada, New-Zealand, US, alternative
- 40 The set of those elements (of a given algebraic structure) that commute with every other element, usually denoted Z(G). In the case of (semi-)groups, it is required that they commute under the (semi-)group operation; in the case of rings and (Lie) algebras, under multiplication (i.e. the bracket for Lie algebras) Canada, US, alternative
Verb
- 1 To cause (an object) to occupy the center of an area. Canada, US, alternative, transitive
"????, Matthew Prior, Celia to Damon Thy joys are centred all in me alone."
- 2 direct one's attention on something wordnet
- 3 To cause (some attribute, such as a mood or voltage) to be adjusted to a value which is midway between the extremes. Canada, US, alternative, transitive
- 4 move into the center wordnet
- 5 To give (something) a central basis. Canada, US, alternative, transitive
"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; […]"
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 center upon wordnet
- 7 To concentrate on (something), to pay close attention to (something). Canada, US, alternative, intransitive
"The plot centers on the life of a working-class family."
- 8 To form a recess or indentation for the reception of a center. Canada, US, alternative
Adjective
- 1 Of, at, or related to a center. Canada, US, alternative, not-comparable
Adjective
- 1 equally distant from the extremes wordnet
- 2 of or belonging to neither the right nor the left politically or intellectually wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
- 2 A number of places in the United States:; A statutory town in Rio Grande County and Saguache County, Colorado.
- 3 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Jackson County, Georgia.
- 4 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Howard County, Indiana.
- 5 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Jay County, Indiana.
Show 10 more definitions
- 6 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Warrick County, Indiana.
- 7 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Metcalfe County, Kentucky.
- 8 A number of places in the United States:; A small city and town in Missouri.
- 9 A number of places in the United States:; A village, the county seat of Knox County, Nebraska.
- 10 A number of places in the United States:; A small city, the county seat of Oliver County, North Dakota.
- 11 A number of places in the United States:; A city, the county seat of Shelby County, Texas.
- 12 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Jefferson County, Washington.
- 13 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Outagamie County, Wisconsin.
- 14 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Rock County, Wisconsin.
- 15 A number of places in the United States:; A number of townships in the United States, listed under Center Township.
Example
"The tourist information center gave a city map to whoever asked it."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "center"?
Common synonyms include: middle, midpoint, core, heart, activator, adductor.
How do you use "center" in a sentence?
The tourist information center gave a city map to whoever asked it.
How do you pronounce "center"?
Pronounced /ˈsɛn.(t)ɚ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English center, centre, from Middle French centre, from Latin centrum, from Ancient Greek κέντρον (kéntron), from κεντεῖν (kenteîn, “to prick, goad”). Doublet of centrum. * (group theory): In the notation Z(G), the letter Z derives from the German Zentrum (“center”).
Etymology 2
From center.