ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hub

n.
US //ˈhəb// UK //hˈʌb// hub
  1. 1 center of activity (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the most important or busy center of a particular activity or place.

    the effective center of an activity, region, or network.

    Example

    The city has become a major technology hub with many new startup companies.

    Example

    The capital serves as the nation's economic hub, attracting investment from across the globe and housing the headquarters of major financial institutions.
  2. 2 transport center (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a central airport or station where many different routes meet.

    a central point in a transport system where many routes converge and passengers or goods are transferred.

    Example

    We had to change planes at the airline's main hub in Dubai.

    Example

    The logistics company established a regional hub near the port to streamline the distribution of goods across the northern provinces.
Show 3 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 part of a wheel (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical

    the central part of a wheel that the other parts connect to.

    the central part of a wheel, rotating on or with the axle, and from which the spokes radiate.

    Example

    The mechanic noticed that the hub of the front wheel was cracked.

    Example

    The cyclist carefully greased the wheel hub to ensure the bearings would rotate smoothly during the long-distance race.
  2. 4 computing device (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computing

    a device used to connect several computers or electronic pieces together in a network.

    a hardware device used to connect multiple Ethernet devices together and make them act as a single network segment.

    Example

    I bought a USB hub so I could plug my mouse, keyboard, and printer into one port.

    Example

    The network administrator replaced the old passive hub with a high-speed switch to reduce data collisions and improve overall office connectivity.
  3. 5 video game area (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a central area in a video game where you can choose which level to play next.

    a central world or menu area in a video game from which various levels or game modes are accessed.

    Example

    After finishing the first mission, you return to the hub to upgrade your weapons.

    Example

    The game's hub world is filled with non-playable characters who provide side quests and lore before the player enters the main dungeons.
Origin

From earlier hubbe, which has the same immediate origin as hob. Hub was originally a dialectal word; its ultimate origin is unknown. Compare German Hubbel (“bump on a surface”), from Proto-West Germanic hubil (“bump, hill”) (which contains a diminutive suffix -il); compare English hive, or perhaps ultimately from the same root as hip or hop.

Word family

© 2026 English Reference