ˈsentə(r)
ˈsentərmiddle
1 [countable] the middle point or part of somethingthe centre of a circlea long table in the centre of the roomchocolates with soft centrestown/city
2 [countable] (especially British English) (North American English usually downtown [usually singular]) the main part of a town or city where there are a lot of shops/stores and officesin the town/city centrethe centre of towna town-centre car park3 [countable] a place or an area where a lot of people live; a place where a lot of business or cultural activity takes placemajor urban/industrial centresa centre of populationSmall towns in South India serve as economic and cultural centres for the surrounding villages.building
4 [countable] a building or place used for a particular purpose or activitya shopping/sports/leisure/community centrethe Centre for Policy Studiesof excellence
5 [countable] centre of excellence a place where a particular kind of work is done extremely wellDarlington could become a regional centre of excellence for nursery nurse training.of attention
6 [countable, usually singular] the point towards which people direct their attentionChildren like to be the centre of attention.The prime minister is at the centre of a political row over leaked Cabinet documents.-centred
7 (in adjectives) having the thing mentioned as the most important feature or centre of attentiona child-centred approach to teaching see also self-centredin politics
8 (usually the centre) [singular] a moderate (= middle) political position or party, between the extremes of left-wing and right-wing partiesa party of the centreAre her views to the left or right of centre?a centre partyin sport
9 [countable] (in some team sports) a player or position in the middle of the pitch/field, court, etc.Idioms
see front and center at front noun, left, right and centreright, left and centre at left adverb