What does "centre" mean?
Australia, British, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa standard spelling of center.
Centre
/ˈsɛntə/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Australia, British, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa standard spelling of center.
- Grammar: centre is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: center, center, center, center field.
- Usage evidence: Who do you think is the best centre in the NBA?
How to use "centre"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "centre" 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 "centre" 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 "centre" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "centre" 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 "centre" is acting as 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 "center" 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 "centre", 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 Australia, British, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa standard spelling of center.
"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."
- 2 a position on a basketball team of the player who participates in the jump that starts the game wordnet
- 3 (American football) the position of the player on the line of scrimmage who puts the ball in play wordnet
- 4 the position on a hockey team of the player who participates in the face off at the beginning of the game wordnet
- 5 a building dedicated to a particular activity wordnet
Show 14 more definitions
- 6 the piece of ground in the outfield directly ahead of the catcher wordnet
- 7 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
- 8 a cluster of nerve cells governing a specific bodily process wordnet
- 9 the object upon which interest and attention focuses wordnet
- 10 the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience wordnet
- 11 the sweet central portion of a piece of candy that is enclosed in chocolate or some other covering wordnet
- 12 politically moderate persons; centrists wordnet
- 13 the middle of a military or naval formation wordnet
- 14 a place where some particular activity is concentrated wordnet
- 15 a point equidistant from the ends of a line or the extremities of a figure wordnet
- 16 an area that is approximately central within some larger region wordnet
- 17 (football) the person who plays center on the line of scrimmage and snaps the ball to the quarterback wordnet
- 18 (basketball) the person who plays center on a basketball team wordnet
- 19 (ice hockey) the person who plays center on a hockey team wordnet
Verb
- 1 Alternative spelling of center. Canada, Ireland, New-Zealand, South-Africa, UK, alt-of, alternative
"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."
- 2 direct one's attention on something wordnet
- 3 move into the center wordnet
- 4 center upon wordnet
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 former administrative region of France, now named Centre-Val de Loire.
- 2 A city, the county seat of Cherokee County, Alabama.
- 3 Centre County, Pennsylvania.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Who do you think is the best centre in the NBA?"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "centre"?
Common synonyms include: center, center, center, center field, center of attention, center on.
How do you use "centre" in a sentence?
Who do you think is the best centre in the NBA?
How do you pronounce "centre"?
Pronounced /ˈsɛntə/.
Etymology
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.