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| cen·ter [ séntər ] |
noun (plural cen·ters) |
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| Definition: |
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1. middle point or part: the middle point, area, or part of something that is the same distance from all edges, ends, or opposite sides
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2. mathematics middle of circle or sphere: the interior point that is the same distance from all points on the circumference of a circle, the surface of a sphere, or the vertices of a polygon
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3. mathematics middle of line: the point on a line that is the same distance from both ends
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4. food filling: the filling of a chocolate, doughnut, or other food
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5. main part of town: the part of a town or city where the main stores, offices, and other facilities are situated
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6. place for particular activity: a place where a particular activity is carried on
  a sports center
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7. focus of attention: the point that is the focus of attention or interest
the issue at the center of the controversy
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8. influential place or organization: a place, area, or group of people exerting control or influence over somebody or something else
a center of design innovation
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9. cluster or concentration: a place or part where something is concentrated or focused
a population center
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10. politics political moderates: those political parties or the section of a party holding views that are neither left-wing nor right-wing
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11. pivotal point or axis: the point or line around which something rotates
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12. physics point where force acts: in physics, the point at or through which a force is considered to act
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13. sports middle player or position: in some sports, a player or position in the middle of the field or court, usually responsible for initiating play
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14. baseball
Same as center field
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15. anatomy group of nerve cells regulating function: a group of nerve cells, especially within the central nervous system, that controls a particular function of the body
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16. mechanical engineering conical part of lathe: the part of a lathe that supports the work to be turned
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17. mechanical engineering mark to guide drill: a dimple made in metal with a pointed tool center punch to mark the center of a larger hole to be drilled
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verb (past and past participle cen·tered, present participle cen·ter·ing, 3rd person present singular cen·ters) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive verb put something in middle: to position something in the middle of something
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2. transitive and intransitive verb focus on theme: to focus on a theme or topic, or cause something to do this
The debate centers on the possible health risks involved.
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3. transitive and intransitive verb concentrate somewhere: to be concentrated, or cause something to be concentrated, in a particular place
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4. transitive verb sports pass ball toward middle: in some sports, to pass, hit, or kick a ball or puck from the edge of the playing area toward the middle
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5. transitive verb football pass football back between legs: in football, to pass the ball back between the legs at the beginning of a down
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| [14th century. Directly or via French< Latin centrum< Greek kentron "point" < kentein "to prick"] |
