center
gb/sˈɛntɚ/ us/sˈɛntɚ/
A1
English
~ 500
közép, központ, középre helyez, középre tesz, középre igazít, összpontosít, középpontjában áll
NOUN
A1
1
Usage pattern:
the center of [something]
The statue stands in the center of the park.
A szobor a park közepén áll.
She placed the vase in the center of the table.
A vázát az asztal közepére tette.
The city center is always busy on weekends.
Draw a dot in the exact center of the circle.
He stood at the center of the stage.
Learner examples
The ball is in the center of the room.
A labda a szoba közepén van.
I live near the center of the city.
A városközpont közelében lakom.
The cake has cream in the center.
We met in the center of the park.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'center' with 'middle' in expressions like 'in the middle of nowhere', which is not usually replaced by 'center'.
Meaning
middle point or part
Collocations
center of attention
|shopping center
|center of town
|center circle
|center point
Synonyms
middle (More general; can be used in both physical and abstract contexts.)
Antonyms
edge (Refers to the outer limit or boundary, opposite of the middle.)
Themes
geometry
|daily life
|space
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The middle part of something, the same distance from all sides.
The point or part that is equally distant from all sides, edges, or ends of something.
VERB
A2
2
Usage pattern:
to center [something] [somewhere]
Center the title on the page before printing.
Nyomtatás előtt igazítsd középre a címet az oldalon.
She centered her chair in front of the desk.
A székét az íróasztal elé, középre igazította.
Please center the photo on the wall.
The coach told him to center the ball.
He centered the image on the screen.
Learner examples
Center the cake on the table.
Tedd a tortát az asztal közepére.
Please center your name on the paper.
Kérlek, írd a nevedet a papír közepére.
She centered her bed in the room.
We centered the TV on the wall.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'center' with 'focus' when talking about attention rather than physical placement.
Meaning
place in the middle
Collocations
center text
|center a picture
|center the ball
Synonyms
align (In technical contexts, can mean to arrange along a line rather than just in the middle.)
Antonyms
off-center (Placed away from the middle position.)
Themes
daily life
|space
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To put something in the middle of an area or space.
To position something so that it is equally distant from all sides or edges.
NOUN
A2
3
központ
B1
The new shopping center opened last month.
Az új bevásárlóközpont a múlt hónapban nyílt meg.
He works at a research center downtown.
Egy belvárosi kutatóközpontban dolgozik.
The sports center has a swimming pool and gym.
Our community center offers free classes.
The city built a new cultural center.
Learner examples
I go to the sports center every week.
Minden héten járok a sportközpontba.
She works at a call center.
Egy telefonos ügyfélszolgálati központban dolgozik.
We meet at the community center.
The new shopping center is big.
Meaning
main place for activities
Collocations
sports center
|community center
|call center
Synonyms
hub (Informal; often used for places that are busy and connected to many things.)
Antonyms
periphery (Outer area far from main activities.)
Themes
business
|daily life
|work
Definition
A main place where people do a certain activity or get services.
A place where a particular activity or service is concentrated or organized.
VERB
B1
4
Usage pattern:
to center [something] on [something]
The discussion centered on climate change.
A megbeszélés középpontjában a klímaváltozás állt.
His research centers on renewable energy.
Kutatása a megújuló energiára összpontosít.
We should center our efforts on helping those in need.
Her speech centered around education reform.
This movie centers on a young woman's journey.
Learner examples
The class centered on grammar today.
A mai órán a nyelvtan volt a középpontban.
Her talk centered on health.
Az előadása főleg az egészségről szólt.
We will center on this topic tomorrow.
My work centers on teaching children.
Common mistake:
Some learners overuse 'around' instead of 'on' after 'center', though both can be correct in informal English.
Meaning
focus attention or effort
Collocations
center efforts on
|center discussion on
Synonyms
focus (More common and general for directing attention.)
Antonyms
distract (To draw attention away from something.)
Themes
emotions
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To give most attention or effort to one thing.
To direct one's attention, efforts, or activities toward a particular thing.
Grammar
Dictionary form
center
IPA
GB/sˈɛntɚ/
US/sˈɛntɚ/
Syllables & stress
cen - ter (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (cen)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: center
- Variant Spelling: centre
- Plural: centers
Verb
- Base: center
- Variant Spelling: centre
- 3rd Person Singular: centers
- Present Participle: centering
- Past: centered
Word family
Forms
Core family
central
adjective A2
centrally
adverb
Related words
centerpiece
noun
Negative and opposite forms
decentralize
verb C1
Advanced or less common
centralization
noun C1
centrality
noun
Highlights
- Spelling Variant: centre Verb
- Spelling Variant: centre Noun
Expressions
center of attention
1/sˈɛntɚ əv ətˈɛnʃən/
fixed phrase
main focus of interest
The person or thing that everyone is looking at or talking about.
Examples
- She was the center of attention at the party.
- The strange painting became the center of attention in the gallery.
center stage
1/sˈɛntɚ stˈeɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
most important position or role
The most important place or role in an event or situation.
Examples
- Education took center stage during the debate.
- The singer moved to center stage for her solo.
in the center of
1/ˈɪn ðə sˈɛntɚ əv/
fixed phrase
in middle part of something
In the middle area of something.
Examples
- There is a fountain in the center of the park.
- He sat in the center of the room.