ALL meanings of center
cen·ter
C c - verb with object center to adjust, shape, or modify (an object, part, etc.) so that its axis or the like is in a central or normal position: to center the lens of a telescope; to center the work on a lathe. 1
- verb with object center to place (an object, part, etc.) so as to be equidistant from all bordering or adjacent areas. 1
- verb with object center Football. snap (def 21). 1
- verb with object center to pass (a basketball, hockey puck, etc.) from any place along the periphery toward the middle of the playing area. 1
- verb without object center to be at or come to a center. 1
- noun center Although sometimes condemned for alleged illogicality, the phrases center about and center around have appeared in edited writing for more than a century to express the sense of gathering or collecting as if around a center: The objections center around the question of fiscal responsibility. 1
- verb without object center to come to a focus; converge; concentrate (followed by at, about, around, in, or on): The interest of the book centers specifically on the character of the eccentric hero. Political power in the town centers in the position of mayor. 1
- verb without object center to gather or accumulate in a cluster; collect (followed by at, about, around, in, or on): Shops and municipal buildings center around the city square. 1
- idioms center on center, from the centerline or midpoint of a structural member, an area of a plan, etc., to that of a similar member, area, etc.: The studs are set 30 inches on center. Abbreviation: o.c. 1
- noun center The middle point of a circle or sphere, equidistant from every point on the circumference or surface. 1
- noun center The point in the interior of a circle or sphere that is equidistant from all points on the circumference. 0
- noun center The middle portion of something; the part well away from the edges. 0
- noun center (geometry) The point on a line that is midway between the ends. 0
- noun center (geometry) The 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). 0
- noun center A place where some function or activity occurs. 0
- noun center A topic that is particularly important in a given context. 0
- noun center (basketball) The player, generally the tallest, who plays closest to the basket. 0
- noun center (ice hockey) The forward that generally plays between the left wing and right wing and usually takes the faceoffs. 0
- noun center (American football) The person who holds the ball at the beginning of each play. 0
- noun center (Canadian football) The person who holds the ball at the beginning of each play. 0
- noun center (netball) A player who can go all over the court, except the shooting circles. 0
- noun center (soccer) A pass played into the centre of the pitch. 0
- noun center (rugby) One of the backs operating in a central area of the pitch, either the inside centre or outside centre. 0
- noun center (architecture) A temporary structure upon which the materials of a vault or arch are supported in position until the work becomes self-supporting. 0
- noun center (engineering) One of the two conical steel pins in a lathe, etc., upon which the work is held, and about which it revolves. 0
- noun center (engineering) A 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. 0
- noun center (politics) The ensemble of moderate or centrist political parties. 0
- verb center (Transitive Verb) To cause (an object) to occupy the center of an area. 0
- verb center (Transitive Verb) To cause (some attribute, such as a mood or voltage) to be adjusted to a value which is midway between the extremes. 0
- verb center (Transitive Verb) To give (something) a central basis. 0
- verb center (Intransitive Verb) To concentrate on (something), to pay close attention to (something). 0
- verb center (engineering) To form a recess or indentation for the reception of a center. 0
- adjective center Of, at, or related to a center. 0