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• centre
  centre

  noun

  center.
• Centre
  Centre

  noun

  the sparsely inhabited central region of Australia

centre

American  

[sen-ter] / ˈsɛn tər /

noun

Chiefly British.

centred, centring

1. center.

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centre ¹ British  

/ ˈsɛntə /

noun

1. geometry

   1. the midpoint of any line or figure, esp the point within a circle or sphere that is equidistant from any point on the circumference or surface

   2. the point within a body through which a specified force may be considered to act, such as the centre of gravity

2. the point, axis, or pivot about which a body rotates

3. a point, area, or part that is approximately in the middle of a larger area or volume

4. a place at which some specified activity is concentrated

   a shopping centre

5. a person or thing that is a focus of interest

6. a place of activity or influence

   a centre of power

7. a person, group, policy, or thing in the middle

8. (usually capital) politics

   1. a political party or group favouring moderation, esp the moderate members of a legislative assembly

   2. ( as modifier )

      a Centre-Left alliance

9. physiol any part of the central nervous system that regulates a specific function

   respiratory centre

10. a bar with a conical point upon which a workpiece or part may be turned or ground

11. a punch mark or small conical hole in a part to be drilled, which enables the point of the drill to be located accurately

12. sport

    1. a player who plays in the middle of the forward line

    2. the act or an instance of passing the ball from a wing to the middle of the field, court, etc

13. basketball

    1. the position of a player who jumps for the ball at the start of play

    2. the player in this position

14. archery

    1. the ring around the bull's eye

    2. a shot that hits this ring

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verb

1. to move towards, mark, put, or be at a centre

2. (tr) to focus or bring together

   to centre one's thoughts

3. to have as a main point of view or theme

   the novel centred on crime

4. (tr) to adjust or locate (a workpiece or part) using a centre

5. (intr; foll by on or round) to have as a centre

6. (tr) sport to pass (the ball) into the middle of the field or court

Centre ² British  

noun

1. the sparsely inhabited central region of Australia

2. a region of central France: generally low-lying; drained chiefly by the Rivers Loire, Loir, and Cher

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Etymology

Origin of centre

C14: from Latin centrum the stationary point of a compass, from Greek kentron needle, from kentein to prick

Example Sentences

Chris Newman, the director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, previously told the BBC that three members of the Johnson family had entered the enclosure.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026

But given the 35-year-old Briton is best known for lobbing Roger Federer on Centre Court, he knows his 2016 Wimbledon exploits will follow him for the rest of his life.

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026

Every day he can be seen flying above Centre Court -- but only by the eagle-eyed who arrive between 4:00 am and 9:00 am before the public is admitted to the hallowed grounds.

From Barron's • Jul. 1, 2026

Experience took on youth Tuesday morning at Wimbledon’s Centre Court as 44-year-old tennis legend Serena Williams played her first singles match in nearly four years, against 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2026

For three years, from sixth to eighth grade, Ben would go to the courts adjacent to the Centre Theater in Alexandria, Virginia, to learn the fundamentals from boys much older and stronger than he.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy