center

plural centers · alternative Australia Canada Commonwealth Ireland New Zealand South Africa UK including usually centre

1. CanadaUSalternativeThe point in the interior of a circle that is equidistant from all points on the circumference.First known use 14th c.

   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.

   1908, Euclid, translated by Thomas L. Heath, Elements, III.9

2. CanadaUSalternativeThe point in the interior of a sphere that is equidistant from all points on the circumference.First known use 14th c.

   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.

   2005 June 4, David Adam, The Guardian

3. CanadaUSalternativeThe middle portion of something; the part well away from the edges.
   1. CanadaUSalternativeobsoleteThe 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.

      [...] their portion set As far remov'd from God and light of Heav'n As from the Center thrice to th'utmost Pole.

      1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 73-75

      1 more example

      Leo. No: if I mistake In those Foundations which I build upon, The Centre is not bigge enough to beare A Schoole-Boyes Top.

      c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 282, column 2

4. CanadaUSalternativegeometryThe point on a line that is midway between the ends.

   Synonyms: midpoint

5. CanadaUSalternativegeometryThe 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).

   The centroid is one of the centres of a triangle

6. CanadaUSalternativegeometryA point on a triangle's plane that is in some sense in its middle.

   There are several centers of a triangle such as its circumcenter, incenter, orthocenter and centroid.

7. CanadaUSalternativeA place, especially a building or complex, set aside for some specified function or activity.

   shopping center, convention center, civic center, garment center, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Rockefeller Center

8. CanadaUSalternativegovernmentThe ensemble of moderate or centrist political parties.
9. CanadaUSalternativeThe venue in which the head of government in a centralized state is situated.

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   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.

   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, →ISBN, page 50

10. CanadaUSalternativeA 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 center of attention

    1 more example

    the center of the controversy

11. A player in the middle of a playing area.
    1. CanadaUSalternativeball gamesThe player, generally the tallest, who plays closest to the basket.
    2. CanadaUSalternativehobbiesThe forward that generally plays between the left wing and right wing and usually takes the faceoffs.
    3. CanadaCanadianUSalternativeAmerican footballThe person who holds the ball at the beginning of each play.
    4. CanadaUSalternativeball gamesA player who can go all over the court, except the shooting circles.
    5. CanadaUSalternativeball gamesA pass played into the centre of the pitch.

       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.

       2010 December 28, Owen Phillips, “Sunderland 0 - 2 Blackpool”, in BBC

    6. CanadaUSalternativeball gamesOne of the backs operating in a central area of the pitch, either the inside centre or outside centre.

       Gatland's side got back to within striking distance when fly-half Jones's clever pass sent centre Jonathan Davies arcing round Shontayne Hape.

       2011 February 4, Gareth Roberts, “Wales 19-26 England”, in BBC

12. A certain mechanical implement functioning in the middle of a whole apparatus
    1. CanadaUSalternativearchitectureA temporary structure upon which the materials of a vault or arch are supported in position until the work becomes self-supporting.
    2. CanadaUSalternativeengineeringOne of the two conical steel pins in a lathe, etc., upon which the work is held, and about which it revolves.
    3. CanadaUSalternativeengineeringA 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.
    4. AustraliaCanadaNew ZealandUSalternativeThe ring in the gambling game two-up in which the spinner operates.
13. CanadaUSalternativering theoryalgebraThe 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)

alternative Australia Canada Commonwealth Ireland New Zealand South Africa UK including usually centre

1. CanadaUSalternativenot comparableOf, at, or related to a center.

   Synonyms: central

present singular third person centers · participle present centering · participle past centered · past centered · alternative Australia Canada Commonwealth Ireland New Zealand South Africa UK including usually centre

1. CanadaUSalternativetransitiveTo cause (an object) to occupy the center of an area.

   He centered the heading of the document.

   1 more example

   ????, Matthew Prior, Celia to Damon Thy joys are centred all in me alone.

2. CanadaUSalternativetransitiveTo cause (some attribute, such as a mood or voltage) to be adjusted to a value which is midway between the extremes.
3. CanadaUSalternativetransitiveTo give (something) a central basis.

   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; […]

   2012, Michael Kaminski et al., chapter 7, in Myth, Media, and Culture in Star Wars: An Anthology, page 87

4. CanadaUSalternativeintransitiveTo concentrate on (something), to pay close attention to (something).

   The discussion centered around the recent issues.

   1 more example

   The plot centers on the life of a working-class family.

5. CanadaUSalternativeengineeringTo form a recess or indentation for the reception of a center.

1. A surname.
2. A number of places in the United States:
   1. A statutory town in Rio Grande County and Saguache County, Colorado.
   2. An unincorporated community in Jackson County, Georgia.
   3. An unincorporated community in Howard County, Indiana.
   4. An unincorporated community in Jay County, Indiana.
   5. An unincorporated community in Warrick County, Indiana.
   6. An unincorporated community in Metcalfe County, Kentucky.
   7. A small city and town in Missouri.
   8. A village, the county seat of Knox County, Nebraska.
   9. A small city, the county seat of Oliver County, North Dakota.
   10. A city, the county seat of Shelby County, Texas.
   11. An unincorporated community in Jefferson County, Washington.
   12. A town in Outagamie County, Wisconsin.
   13. A town in Rock County, Wisconsin.
   14. A number of townships in the United States, listed under Center Township.