center

The word “center” means the point exactly in the middle of something, equally distant from all its edges or sides. In plain terms, the middle point of something, or a place/building built for a specific purpose.

“Center” is pronounced SEHN-tuh (/ˈsɛn.təː/ in IPA).

Here is “center” used in a sentence: “She placed the vase in the center of the table.”

Words with a similar meaning to “center” include centroid, center of gravity, center of mass, middle and midst.

The opposite of “center” — its antonyms — is periphery.

Depending on how it is used, “center” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.

The word “center” comes from Latin. From Latin centrum, itself from Greek kentron ("sharp point, the fixed point of a compass"), from kentein, "to prick or goad".

“Center” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

There is no difference in meaning, only in spelling. "Center" is the standard American English form, while "centre" is used in British English and most Commonwealth countries. Both refer to the exact middle point and are pronounced the same way. Choose the spelling that matches your audience.

They overlap, but "center" is more precise — the single point equally distant from every edge, like the center of a circle. "Middle" is looser, describing a general area between two ends or sides, such as the middle of a room. Every center is in the middle, but not the reverse.

The center of a circle is the point from which every part of the edge is the same distance. A dartboard's bullseye sits at its center, and a see-saw balances on a central pivot. In each case, the center is the exact middle, equally spaced from the outer boundaries.

Yes. Besides naming the middle point, "center" can mean to place something in the middle, as in "center the title on the page." It can also mean to focus or concentrate on something: "the discussion centered on cost." The noun and verb share the same core idea of a middle.