centre
centre
(sentəʳ )Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense centres , present participle centring , past tense, past participle centred regional note: in AM, use center
1. countable noun [oft in names]
2. countable noun
If an area or town is a centre for an industry or activity, that industry or activity is very important there.
London is also the major international insurance centre.
3. countable noun [usually singular]
The centre of something is the middle of it.
A large wooden table dominates the centre of the room. [+ of]
Bake until light golden and crisp around the edges and slightly soft in the centre.
4. countable noun [usually singular]
5. countable noun [usually singular]
If something or someone is at the centre of a situation, they are the most important thing or person involved.
...the man at the centre of the controversy. [+ of]
At the centre of the inquiry has been concern for the pensioners involved. [+ of]
6. countable noun [usually singular]
If someone or something is the centre of attention or interest, people are giving them a lot of attention.
The rest of the cast was used to her being the centre of attention. [+ of]
The centre of attraction was Pierre Auguste Renoir's oil painting. [+ of]
7. singular noun [oft NOUN noun]
In politics, the centre refers to groups and their beliefs, when they are considered to be neither left-wing nor right-wing.
The Democrats have become a party of the centre.
...the centre parties.
8. verb
If you centre something, you move it so that it is at the centre of something else.
Centre the design on the cloth before you start. [VERB noun on noun]
[Also VERB noun]9. verb
If something centres or is centred on a particular thing or person, that thing or person is the main subject of attention.
...a plan which centred on academic achievement and personal motivation. [V + on/around]
All his concerns were centred around himself rather than Rachel. [V on/around n]
When working with patients, my efforts are centred on helping them to overcome illness. [be V-ed + on/around]
[Also V n on/around n]-centred combining form
...a child-centred approach to teaching.
...patient-centred care.
10. verb
If an industry or event is centred in a place, or if it centres there, it takes place to the greatest extent there.
The fighting has been centred around the town of Vucovar. [be VERB-ed preposition]
The disturbances have centred round the two main university areas. [VERB preposition]
Between 100 and 150 travellers' vehicles were scattered around the county, with the largest gathering centred on Ampfield. [VERB-ed]
