centre

noun

• 1the point that is equally distant from every point on the circumference of a circle or sphere.
• a point or part that is equally distant from all sides, ends, or surfaces of something:the centre of the ceiling the city centre
• a political party or group whose opinions avoid extremes: [as modifier]:a new centre party
• the middle player in a line or group in certain team games.
• a kick, hit, or throw of the ball from the side to the middle of field in soccer, hockey, and other team games.
• the filling in a chocolate:truffles with liqueur centres
• a pivot or axis of rotation.
• a conical adjustable support for a workpiece in a lathe or similar machine.

• 2the point from which an activity or process is directed, or on which it is focused:the city was a centre of discontent the managing director is at the centre of a row over policy
• the most important place in the respect specified:Geneva was then the centre of the banking world

• 3a place or group of buildings where a specified activity is concentrated:a conference centre

verb

• 1 [no object] (be centred in) occur mainly in or around (a specified place):the textile industry was centred in Lancashire and Yorkshire
• (centre around/on or centre something around/on) have or cause to have (a specified concern or theme):the case centres around the couple’s adopted children [with object]:he is centring his discussion on an analysis of patterns of mortality

• 2 [with object] place in the middle:to centre the needle, turn the knob
• [no object] (in soccer, hockey, and other team games) kick, hit, or throw the ball from the side to the middle of the playing area: he centred from a difficult position on the left
• [no object] chiefly North American play as the middle player of a line or group in certain team games.