central

adjective

OPAL WOPAL S

/ˈsentrəl/

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in the centre of an area or object
- central London
- Central America/Europe/Asia
- There will be rain later in central and eastern parts of the country.
- the central area of the brain
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
adverb
- fairly
- quite
- very
- …
See full entry
easily reached from many areas
- The flat is very central—just five minutes from Princes Street.
- The offices are in a central location.
- Our house is very central, so we can easily get to theatres and restaurants.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
adverb
- fairly
- quite
- very
- …
See full entry
most important
- The central issue is that of widespread racism.
- She has been a central figure in the campaign.
- Prevention also plays a central role in traditional medicine.
- The gap between rich and poor is becoming a central theme of the election.
- She plays the central character Alexandra.
- central to something Reducing inflation is central to (= is an important part of) the government's economic policy.
Synonyms main
main
- major
- key
- central
- principal
- chief
- prime
These words all describe somebody/something that is the largest or most important of its kind.
- main [only before noun] largest or most important:
  Be careful crossing the main road.
  The main thing is to remain calm.
- major [usually before noun] very large or important:
  He played a major role in setting up the system.
  When major is used with the or my/your/his/her/our/their it means ‘the largest or most important’: Our major concern here is combating poverty. In this meaning it is only used to talk about ideas or worries that people have, not physical things, and it is also more formal than main: Be careful crossing the major road. • The major thing is to remain calm.
- key [usually before noun] most important; essential:
  He was a key figure in the campaign.
  Key is used most frequently in business and political contexts. It can be used to talk about ideas, or the part that somebody plays in a situation, but not physical things. It is slightly more informal than major, especially when used after a noun and linking verb: Speed is key at this point.
- central (rather formal) most important:
  The central issue is that of widespread racism.
  Central is used in a similar way to key, but is more formal. It is most frequently used in the phrase something is central to something else.
- principal [only before noun] (rather formal) most important:
  The principal reason for this omission is lack of time.
  Principal is mostly used for statements of fact about which there can be no argument. To state an opinion, or to try to persuade somebody of the facts as you see them, it is more usual to use key or central: The key/central issue here is…
- chief [only before noun] (rather formal) most important:
  Unemployment was the chief cause of poverty.
- prime [only before noun] (rather formal) most important; to be considered first:
  My prime concern is to protect my property.
Patterns
- a/the main/major/key/central/principal/chief/prime aim/concern
- a/the main/major/principal road/town/city
- the main/key thing is to…
- to be of major/key/central/prime importance
Extra Examples
- These facts are central to the case.
- This distinction is of absolutely central importance.
- Alienation is a central motif in her novels.
- What is the central truth of all his religious teaching?
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
adverb
- very
- absolutely
- increasingly
- …
preposition
- to
See full entry
having power or control over other parts
- the central committee (= of a political party)
- The organization has a central office in York.
(phonetics) (of a vowel) produced with the centre of the tongue in a higher position than the front or the back, for example /ɜː/ in bird compare back, front

Word Originmid 17th cent.: from French, or from Latin centralis, from centrum, from Greek kentron ‘sharp point, stationary point of a pair of compasses’, related to kentein ‘to prick’.

单词	central
释义	central adjective OPAL WOPAL S /ˈsentrəl/ /ˈsentrəl/ jump to other results in the centre of an area or object central London Central America/Europe/Asia There will be rain later in central and eastern parts of the country. the central area of the brain Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs be adverb fairly quite very … See full entry easily reached from many areas The flat is very central—just five minutes from Princes Street. The offices are in a central location. Our house is very central, so we can easily get to theatres and restaurants. Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs be adverb fairly quite very … See full entry most important The central issue is that of widespread racism. She has been a central figure in the campaign. Prevention also plays a central role in traditional medicine. The gap between rich and poor is becoming a central theme of the election. She plays the central character Alexandra. central to something Reducing inflation is central to (= is an important part of) the government's economic policy. Synonyms mainmain major key central principal chief prime These words all describe somebody/something that is the largest or most important of its kind. main [only before noun] largest or most important: Be careful crossing the main road. The main thing is to remain calm. major [usually before noun] very large or important: He played a major role in setting up the system. When major is used with the or my/your/his/her/our/their it means ‘the largest or most important’: Our major concern here is combating poverty. In this meaning it is only used to talk about ideas or worries that people have, not physical things, and it is also more formal than main: Be careful crossing the major road. • The major thing is to remain calm. key [usually before noun] most important; essential: He was a key figure in the campaign. Key is used most frequently in business and political contexts. It can be used to talk about ideas, or the part that somebody plays in a situation, but not physical things. It is slightly more informal than major, especially when used after a noun and linking verb: Speed is key at this point. central (rather formal) most important: The central issue is that of widespread racism. Central is used in a similar way to key, but is more formal. It is most frequently used in the phrase something is central to something else. principal [only before noun] (rather formal) most important: The principal reason for this omission is lack of time. Principal is mostly used for statements of fact about which there can be no argument. To state an opinion, or to try to persuade somebody of the facts as you see them, it is more usual to use key or central: The key/central issue here is… chief [only before noun] (rather formal) most important: Unemployment was the chief cause of poverty. prime [only before noun] (rather formal) most important; to be considered first: My prime concern is to protect my property. Patterns a/the main/major/key/central/principal/chief/prime aim/concern a/the main/major/principal road/town/city the main/key thing is to… to be of major/key/central/prime importance Extra Examples These facts are central to the case. This distinction is of absolutely central importance. Alienation is a central motif in her novels. What is the central truth of all his religious teaching? Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs be adverb very absolutely increasingly … preposition to See full entry having power or control over other parts the central committee (= of a political party) The organization has a central office in York. (phonetics) (of a vowel) produced with the centre of the tongue in a higher position than the front or the back, for example /ɜː/ in bird compare back, front Word Originmid 17th cent.: from French, or from Latin centralis, from centrum, from Greek kentron ‘sharp point, stationary point of a pair of compasses’, related to kentein ‘to prick’.
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