Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
center (noun)1.
a) the point around which a circle or sphere is described , broadly a point that is related to a geometrical figure in such a way that for any point on the figure there is another point on the figure such that a straight line joining the two points is bisected by the original point - called also center of symmetry
b) the center of the circle inscribed in a regular polygon
2.
a) a point, area, person, or thing that is most important or pivotal in relation to an indicated activity, interest, or condition - a railroad center the center of the controversy
b) a source from which something originates - a propaganda center
c) a group of neurons having a common function - respiratory center
d) a region of concentrated population - an urban center
e) a facility providing a place for a particular activity or service - a day-care center
3.
a) the middle part (as of the forehead or a stage)
b) often capitalized
(1) a grouping of political figures holding moderate views especially between those of conservatives and liberals
(2) the views of such politicians
(3) the adherents of such views
4.
a) a player occupying a middle position on a team as
(1) the football player in the middle of a line who passes the ball between his legs to a back to start a down
(2) the usually tallest player on a basketball team who usually plays near the basket
b) - center field
5.
a) either of two tapered rods which support work in a lathe or grinding machine and about or with which the work revolves
b) a conical recess in the end of work (as a shaft) for receiving such a center
transitive verb
1.
to place or fix at or around a center or area - central center the picture on the wall
2.
to give a central focus or basis - centers her hopes on her son the plot was centered on espionage
3.
to adjust (as lenses) so that the axes coincide
4.
a) to pass (a ball or puck) from either side toward the middle of the playing area
b) to hand or pass (a football) backward between one's legs to a back to start a down
5.
intransitive verb
to play center on - center a line in hockey to have a specified center - focus
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
center (noun)1.
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest
SYNONIMS:
axis, base, capital, central, core, cynosure, epicenter, eye, focus, ground zero, heart, hub, locus, mecca, navel, nerve center, nexus, nucleus, omphalos, seatRELATED WORDS:
headquarters; happy hunting ground, hive, hotbed, hot spot, playground, playland; kernel, nub, pith; deep, thick; essence, quintessence, soul; attraction, lodestone ( loadstone), magnet, polestar2.
an area or point that is an equal distance from all points along an edge or outer surface
SYNONIMS:
core, middle, midpoint, midstRELATED WORDS:
inside, interior1.
to bring (something) to a central point or under a single control
SYNONIMS:
center, compact, concenter, concentrate, consolidate, polarize, unify, uniteRELATED WORDS:
coordinate, harmonize, integrate, orchestrate; blend, coalesce, combine, fuse, incorporate, merge, reduce; conjoin, join, link; assemble, collect, colligate, gather; reunify, reuniteNEAR ANTONYMS:
segregate, separate2.
to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective
SYNONIMS:
center, fasten, focus, rivet, trainRELATED WORDS:
aim, direct, home (in on), hone in (on), level, nail, point, set, zero (in on); attend, heed, mind; fixate (on), obsess (over); refocus