Dictionary.com

centesimo

[ sen-tes-uh-moh; Italian chen-te-zee-maw; Spanish sen-te-see-maw ]
/ sɛnˈtɛs əˌmoʊ; Italian tʃɛnˈtɛ zi mɔ; Spanish sɛnˈtɛ siˌmɔ /
Save This Word!
noun, plural cen·tes·i·mi [sen-tes-uh-mee; Italian chen-te-zee-mee], /sɛnˈtɛs ə mi; Italian tʃɛnˈtɛ zi mi/, cen·tes·i·mos [sen-tes-uh-mohz; Spanish sen-te-see-maws]. /sɛnˈtɛs əˌmoʊz; Spanish sɛnˈtɛ siˌmɔs/.
a monetary unit of Italy until the euro was adopted, one 100th of a lira.
a cupronickel coin of Uruguay, one 100th of a peso.
a copper coin of Panama, one 100th of a balboa.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of centesimo

First recorded in 1850–55; from Italian, Spanish, from Latin centēsimus; see centesimal
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use centesimo in a sentence

  • He never spends a soldo, I am positive; and if he drops a centesimo under the benches, he is capable of hunting for it for a week.

    Cuore (Heart)|Edmondo De Amicis

  • I shall rot in hell before ever I put one centesimo into your filthy claws!

    The Wolf Cub|Patrick Casey

  • I will give two sous for the original four, and not a centesimo more.

    Saunterings|Charles Dudley Warner

British Dictionary definitions for centesimo (1 of 2)

centesimo
/ (sɛnˈtɛsɪˌməʊ) /
noun plural -mos or -mi
a former monetary unit of Italy, San Marino, and the Vatican City worth one hundredth of a lira

Word Origin for centesimo

C19: from Italian, from Latin centēsimus hundredth, from centum hundred

British Dictionary definitions for centesimo (2 of 2)

centésimo
/ (sɛnˈtɛsɪˌməʊ) /
noun plural -mos or -mi
a monetary unit of Panama and Uruguay. It is worth one hundredth of their respective standard units

Word Origin for centésimo

C19: from Spanish; see centesimo
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
FEEDBACK