central
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.located in the middle of an area or city.
adj.situated at or near the centre of a space, object, or geographic region.
Simple“The hotel is very central, so you can walk to all the main museums.”
In context“The central business district remains the primary hub for financial services, despite the recent trend of companies moving to suburban offices.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
adj.the most important part of an idea, plan, or system.
adj.of primary importance; essential or principal to a concept, organisation, or process.
Simple“The theme of family is central to the story in this movie.”
In context“Reducing carbon emissions is central to the government's new environmental policy for the coming decade.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
adj.relating to the main part of the body's nervous system, like the brain and spine.
adj.relating to the central nervous system or acting from the centre toward the peripheral organs.
Simple“The central nervous system controls how our bodies react to pain.”
In context“The drug acts on the central nervous system to reduce tremors without affecting the patient's motor coordination in the limbs.”
Antonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a main office or a place that controls a large system.
n.a central office, station, or hub that serves as a point of control or coordination.
Simple“The taxi driver called central to ask for the correct address.”
In context“The regional power central monitors electricity distribution across three states to prevent blackouts during peak hours.”
Synonyms
Usage central defender · central area · central axis
Borrowed from Latin centrālis, from centrum (“centre”), from Ancient Greek κέντρον (kéntron); by surface analysis, centre + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.