Center has 27 different meanings across 4 categories:
Noun · Verb · Adjective · Proper Noun
the piece of ground in the outfield directly ahead of the catcher
"he hit the ball to deep center"
the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
"the gist of the prosecutor's argument"
"the heart and soul of the Republican Party"
"the nub of the story"
the object upon which interest and attention focuses
"his stories made him the center of the party"
a cluster of nerve cells governing a specific bodily process
"in most people the speech center is in the left hemisphere"
(basketball) the person who plays center on a basketball team
"The coach yelled at the center to get back on defense before they lost possession of the ball."
politically moderate persons; centrists
"The party's new platform was designed to appeal directly to center voters who were tired of extreme policies on both sides."
(ice hockey) the person who plays center on a hockey team
"The team captain, who serves as the center, led his line to break up the opposing penalty kill during the third period."
mercantile establishment consisting of a carefully landscaped complex of shops representing leading merchandisers; usually includes restaurants and a convenient parking area; a modern version of the traditional marketplace
"a good plaza should have a movie house"
"they spent their weekends at the local malls"
the position on a hockey team of the player who participates in the face off at the beginning of the game
"The coach decided to start our top center for the opening face-off since he has the best speed."
(American football) the position of the player on the line of scrimmage who puts the ball in play
"it is a center's responsibility to get the football to the quarterback"
a position on a basketball team of the player who participates in the jump that starts the game
"The captain stood at center court to execute the opening tip-off."
The point in the interior of a circle that is equidistant from all points on the circumference.
"The architect marked the exact center of the circular courtyard where every point on the edge was equally far away."
In plain English: The center is the middle point of something where all other parts are equally far away.
"The city center is full of shops and restaurants."
Usage: Use "center" to refer to the middle point of a geometric shape or the core location of an activity. Do not use it when you need to specify a direction, as "centre" is the preferred spelling in British English for both meanings.
center upon
"Her entire attention centered on her children"
"Our day revolved around our work"
To cause (an object) to occupy the center of an area.
"The photographer adjusted the tripod until the mountain perfectly centered in the frame."
In plain English: To center something means to move it so that it is perfectly in the middle of a space or group.
"The crowd gathered at the center of the square to watch the performance."
Usage: Use center as a verb when you mean to position something in the middle of a space or group. It is often interchangeable with centre in British English, but always keep it consistent with your chosen spelling throughout your text.
of or belonging to neither the right nor the left politically or intellectually
"The candidate's moderate stance on healthcare appealed to voters who felt caught between the two political extremes."
Of, at, or related to a center.
"The new downtown shopping district is located in the very center of the city's business area."
In plain English: Center means being in the middle of something, like standing right between two other people.
"The center of the table was covered with flowers."
Usage: Use "center" as an adjective only when it directly modifies a noun to mean located at or related to the middle point, such as in "the center of the city." It is incorrect to place it after the noun or before a hyphenated phrase where "central" would be required instead.
A surname.
"The Center won the election after decades of struggling to regain their footing in local politics."
The word center comes from Latin centrum, which originally meant "a point for pricking or piercing." It entered English through Middle French and has retained its core meaning of a middle point throughout its history.