center

cen•ter

[[t]ˈsɛn tər[/t]] n.

1) math. the point within a circle or sphere equally distant from all points of the circumference or surface, or the point within a regular polygon equally distant from the vertices

2) a point, pivot, or axis around which something rotates or revolves

3) the core or middle of something

4) the source of an influence, action, or force:

the center of a problem[/ex]

5) a focus of interest or concern

6) a principal point, place, or object:

a shipping center[/ex]

7) cvb a building or part of a building used as a meeting place or having facilities for activities

8) cvb an office or other facility providing a service or dealing with a particular emergency

9) a person, thing, or group occupying the middle position, esp. a body of troops

10) cvb a store or establishment devoted to a particular subject or hobby:

a garden center[/ex]

11) shopping center

12) gov (usu. cap.)

a) gov (esp. in continental Europe) the members of a legislative assembly who hold views intermediate between those of the Right and Left, customarily seated in the center of the chamber

b) gov individuals or groups holding moderate views, esp. in politics

c) gov the moderate position held by these people

13) spo

a) a football lineman in the middle of the line who puts the ball into play by tossing it between his legs to a back

b) the position played by this lineman

14) spo

a) a basketball player, usu. the team's tallest, who plays close to and in front of the basket

b) this position or role

15) spo an ice hockey player who participates in a face-off at the beginning of play

16) math. Math.

a) the mean position of a figure or system

b) the set of elements of a group that commute with every element of the group

17) mac a tapered rod, mounted in the headstock spindle or the tailstock spindle of a lathe, upon which the work to be turned is placed

18) to place in or on a center

19) to collect to or around a center; focus:

He centered his novel on the Civil War[/ex]

20) to determine or mark the center of

21) to adjust, shape, or modify (an object, part, etc.) so that its axis or the like is in a central or normal position

22) spo football

snap 19)

23) to be at or come to a center

24) cvb to come to a focus; converge; concentrate (fol. by at, about, around, in, or on)

25) to gather or accumulate in a cluster; collect (fol. by at, about, around, in, or on)

Also, esp. brit. centre. Etymology: 1325–75; < L centrum < Gk kéntron needle, pivoting point in drawing a circle, der. of kenteîn to sting cen′ter•a•ble,adj. cen′ter•less,adj. usage: Although frequently condemned as illogical, the phrases center about and center around have appeared in edited writing for more than a century to express the sense of collecting or gathering as if around a center. The phrase revolve around is often suggested as a substitute; the prepositions at, in, and on are regarded as acceptable with center in this sense: Their objections centered on his lack of experience.