Word: center Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱent-der. Ancient Greek κέντρον (kéntron)der. Latin centrumder. Middle French centrebor. Middle English center English center From Middle English center, centre, from Middle French centre, from Latin centrum, from Ancient Greek κέντρον (kéntron), from κεντεῖν (kenteîn, “to prick, goad”). Doublet of centrum. * (group theory): In the notation Z(G), the letter Z derives from the German Zentrum (“center”). Pronunciation: /ˈsɛn.təː/, [ˈsɛn.tʰəː], /ˈsɛn.tɚ/, [ˈsɛ̟n.tʰɚ] ~ [ˈsɛ̟n.tʰɹ̩], /ˈsɛɾ̃.ɚ/ 1. The point in the interior of a circle that is equidistant from all points on the circumference. Labels: Canada, US, alternative Example: If a point be taken within a circle, and more than two equal straight lines fall from the point on the circle, the point taken is the centre of the circle. 2. The point in the interior of a sphere that is equidistant from all points on the circumference. Labels: Canada, US, alternative Example: Japanese scientists are to explore the centre of the Earth. Using a giant drill ship launched next month, the researchers aim to be the first to punch a hole through the rocky crust that covers our planet and to reach the mantle below. 3. The middle portion of something; the part well away from the edges. Labels: Canada, US, alternative 4. The middle portion of something; the part well away from the edges. Labels: Canada, US, alternative, obsolete Example: [...] their portion set As far remov'd from God and light of Heav'n As from the Center thrice to th'utmost Pole. Example: Leo. No: if I mistake In those Foundations which I build upon, The Centre is not bigge enough to beare A Schoole-Boyes Top. 5. The point on a line that is midway between the ends. Labels: Canada, US, alternative 6. 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). Labels: Canada, US, alternative Example: The centroid is one of the centres of a triangle 7. A point on a triangle's plane that is in some sense in its middle. Labels: Canada, US, alternative Example: There are several centers of a triangle such as its circumcenter, incenter, orthocenter and centroid. 8. A place, especially a building or complex, set aside for some specified function or activity. Labels: Canada, US, alternative Example: shopping center, convention center, civic center, garment center, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Rockefeller Center 9. The ensemble of moderate or centrist political parties. Labels: Canada, US, alternative 10. The venue in which the head of government in a centralized state is situated. Labels: Canada, US, alternative Example: In Anatolia tensions between state officials (ehl-i örf) and the peasants were strained to breaking point. At several places—particularly in the frontier provinces—there were fierce clashes between the janissaries stationed there and the governors. In Aleppo and Damascus incidents were common after 1589: the kuls threw rocks at the beylerbeyi’s house, killed people, broke into the divan several times and took the money prepared by the council for remittance to the centre. 11. A topic that is particularly important in a given context, the element in a subject of cognition, volition or discussion that is perceived as decisive. Labels: Canada, US, alternative Example: the center of the controversy Example: the center of attention 12. A player in the middle of a playing area. Labels: Canada, US, alternative 13. A player in the middle of a playing area. Labels: Canada, US, alternative 14. A player in the middle of a playing area. Labels: Canada, Canadian, US, alternative 15. A player in the middle of a playing area. Labels: Canada, US, alternative 16. A player in the middle of a playing area. Labels: Canada, US, alternative Example: Bent twice sent efforts wide of the far post after cutting in from the left, Wellbeck missed his kick from an inviting centre and failed to get on the end of a looping pass when six yards out. 17. A player in the middle of a playing area. Labels: Canada, US, alternative Example: Gatland's side got back to within striking distance when fly-half Jones's clever pass sent centre Jonathan Davies arcing round Shontayne Hape. 18. A certain mechanical implement functioning in the middle of a whole apparatus Labels: Canada, US, alternative 19. A certain mechanical implement functioning in the middle of a whole apparatus Labels: Canada, US, alternative 20. A certain mechanical implement functioning in the middle of a whole apparatus Labels: Canada, US, alternative 21. A certain mechanical implement functioning in the middle of a whole apparatus Labels: Australia, Canada, New-Zealand, US, alternative 22. The set of those elements (of a given algebraic structure) that commute with every other element, usually denoted Z(G). In the case of (semi-)groups, it is required that they commute under the (semi-)group operation; in the case of rings and (Lie) algebras, under multiplication (i.e. the bracket for Lie algebras) Labels: Canada, US, alternative