- centre
- [[t]se̱ntə(r)[/t]]
♦centres, centring, centred1) N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft in names after n A centre is a building where people have meetings, take part in a particular activity, or get help of some kind.
We went to a party at the leisure centre...
She now also does pottery classes at a community centre.
...the National Exhibition Centre.
2) N-COUNT: with supp 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) N-COUNT: usu sing The centre of something is the middle of it.A large wooden table dominates the centre of the room...
Bake until light golden and crisp around the edges and slightly soft in the centre.
4) N-COUNT: usu sing The centre of a town or city is the part where there are the most shops and businesses and where a lot of people come from other areas to work or shop....the city centre.
5) N-COUNT: usu sing, usu N of n 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...
At the centre of the heated row was the question: Who leaked little Jennifer's name?
6) N-COUNT: usu sing, N of n 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...
The centre of attraction was Pierre Auguste Renoir's oil painting.
Syn:7) N-SING: the N, oft N n 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.9) V-ERG If something centres or is centred on a particular thing or person, that thing or person is the main subject of attention.[V on/around n] ...the improvement was the result of a plan which centred on academic achievement and personal motivation...
[V on/around n] All his concerns were centred around himself rather than Rachel...
[be V-ed on/around n] When working with patients, my efforts are centred on helping them to overcome illness. [Also V n on/around n]
Derived words:-centred COMB in ADJ-GRADED...a child-centred approach to teaching.
...patient-centred care.
10) V-ERG If an industry or event is centred in a place, or if it centres there, it takes place to the greatest extent there.[be V-ed prep] The fighting has been centred around the town of Vucovar...
[V prep] The disturbances have centred round the two main university areas...
[V-ed] Between 100 and 150 travellers' vehicles were scattered around the county, with the largest gathering centred on Ampfield.
11) → See also , detention centre, , health centre, , left-of-centre, , reception centre, , right-of-centre, shopping centre
English dictionary. 2008.
