ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cent

US //ˈsɛnt// UK //sˈɛnt// cent
  1. 1 currency unit (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    a small unit of money that is worth one-hundredth of a dollar or a euro.

    a subunit of currency equal to one-hundredth of the basic unit in various countries, such as the dollar or euro.

    Example

    The candy costs ninety-nine cents plus tax.

    Example

    The exchange rate fluctuated by only a fraction of a cent during the morning trading session, showing unusual stability.
  2. 2 physical coin (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a small coin that has the value of one cent.

    a physical coin representing the value of one cent.

    Example

    He found a shiny cent on the sidewalk and put it in his pocket.

    Example

    The collector examined the rare copper cent under a magnifying glass to check for minting errors.
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  1. 3 musical interval (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Music

    a very small unit used to measure the difference between two musical notes.

    a logarithmic unit of measure used for musical intervals, where twelve hundred cents equal one octave.

    Example

    The piano tuner adjusted the string by just a few cents to make it perfect.

    Example

    The digital tuner indicated that the violin's A-string was flat by approximately five cents.

  2. 4 small amount of money (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    any small or unimportant amount of money.

    a negligible sum of money; frequently used in negative constructions to indicate total lack of funds or value.

    Example

    After paying his rent, he didn't have a cent left for food.

    Example

    The bankrupt firm was unable to pay its creditors a single cent after the liquidation of its remaining assets.
Origin

From Middle English cent, from Old French cent, from Latin centum, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱm̥tóm.

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