ENGLISH
REFERENCE

central

adj. · n.
US //ˈsɛntɹəɫ// UK //sˈɛntɹəl// cen·tral
  1. 1 in the middle (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    located in the middle of an area or city.

    situated at or near the centre of a space, object, or geographic region.

    Example

    The hotel is very central, so you can walk to all the main museums.

    Example

    The central business district remains the primary hub for financial services, despite the recent trend of companies moving to suburban offices.
  2. 2 very important (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the most important part of an idea, plan, or system.

    of primary importance; essential or principal to a concept, organisation, or process.

    Example

    The theme of family is central to the story in this movie.

    Example

    Reducing carbon emissions is central to the government's new environmental policy for the coming decade.
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  1. 3 anatomy/biology (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

    relating to the main part of the body's nervous system, like the brain and spine.

    relating to the central nervous system or acting from the centre toward the peripheral organs.

    Example

    The central nervous system controls how our bodies react to pain.

    Example

    The drug acts on the central nervous system to reduce tremors without affecting the patient's motor coordination in the limbs.
  2. 4 a main office or station (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English

    a main office or a place that controls a large system.

    a central office, station, or hub that serves as a point of control or coordination.

    Example

    The taxi driver called central to ask for the correct address.

    Example

    The regional power central monitors electricity distribution across three states to prevent blackouts during peak hours.
Origin

Borrowed from Latin centrālis, from centrum (“centre”), from Ancient Greek κέντρον (kéntron); by surface analysis, centre + -al.

Word family

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