center

noun

/ˈsentə(r)/

/ˈsentər/

(US English)

(British English centre)

Idioms

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[countable] the middle point or part of something
- the center of something He walked to the center of the circle.
- in the center of something There was a long table in the center of the room.
- The statue is in the very center of the temple.
- chocolates with soft centers
- at the center of something Aristotle believed that the Earth was at the center of the universe.
[countable] (especially British English)
(North American English usually downtown [usually singular])
the main part of a town or city where there are a lot of shops and offices
- in the… center We both work in the city center.
Topics Shoppinga1, Buildingsa1
[countable] a place or an area where a lot of people live; a place where a lot of business or cultural activity takes place
- major urban/industrial centers
- center of something At that time Winchester was still a major centrer of population.
- center for something The university is a leading center for scientific research.
- Small towns in South India serve as economic and cultural centers for the surrounding villages.
[countable] a building or place used for a particular purpose or activity
- a shopping/sports/leisure/community center
- The company has recently opened a new training center.
[countable] center of excellence a place where a particular kind of work is done extremely well
- The university is recognized as an international center of excellence for training dentists.
[countable, usually singular] the point towards which people direct their attention
- Children like to be the center of attention.
[singular] a moderate (= middle) political position or party, between the extremes of left-wing and right-wing parties
- a party of the center
- a center party
Topics Politicsb2
[countable] (in some team sports) a player or position in the middle of the pitch, court, etc.

Idioms

front and center

in or into the most important position
- The issue has moved front and center in his presidential campaign.

left, right and center

(also right, left and center)

(informal) in all directions; everywhere
- He's giving away money left, right and center.

center

verb

/ˈsentə(r)/

/ˈsentər/

(US English)

(British English centre)

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they center	/ˈsentə(r)/ /ˈsentər/
he / she / it centers	/ˈsentəz/ /ˈsentərz/
past simple centered	/ˈsentəd/ /ˈsentərd/
past participle centered	/ˈsentəd/ /ˈsentərd/
-ing form centering	/ˈsentərɪŋ/ /ˈsentərɪŋ/

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[intransitive, transitive] to be the person or thing around which most activity takes place; to make somebody/something the central person or thing
- center around/round somebody/something Conversation centered around their wedding plans.
- center on/upon somebody/something The debate centered on an important practical question.
- The investigations centered on him as the only real suspect in the case.
- be centered around/round somebody/something Leisure activities were largely centered around the family.
- Roosevelt's foreign policy was centered around these themes.
- be centered on/upon somebody/something Discussions were centered on developments in Eastern Europe.
- The main story is centered on two young men, one a photographer, the other a gang leader.
be centered in…
[intransitive] to take place mainly in or around the place mentioned
- Most of the fighting was centered in the north of the capital.
[transitive] center something (+ adv./prep.) to move something so that it is in the center of something else
- This button will center the image on the page.