Word family noun centre/center centralization ≠ decentralization centralism centrist adjective central centralized ≠ decentralized centred/centered centrist verb centre/center centralize ≠ decentralize adverb centrally
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcentralcen‧tral /ˈsentrəl/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective 1 middle [only before noun, no comparative]MIDDLE in the middle of an area or an object He lives in central London. The roof is supported by a central column.Central America/Asia/Europe etc2 from one place [only before noun, no comparative]PG used about the part of an organization, system etc which controls the rest of it, or its work the party’s central office the system’s central control unit central planning3 importantBASIC more important and having more influence than anything elsecentral to values which are central to our society Owen played a central role in the negotiations. His ideas were of central importance in the development of the theory.central idea/theme/concern etc Education has become a central issue in public debate.► see thesaurus at important, main4 easy accessMIDDLE a place that is central is easy to reach because it is near the middle of a town or area It’s very central, just five minutes’ walk from the main square. —centrally adverb Our office is centrally situated. All data is held centrally. —centrality /senˈtræləti/ noun [uncountable]COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 3: more important and having more influence than anything elsenounsa central role/partThe report emphasizes the central role of science in society.a central issueEducation is a central issue for the government.a central themeWhat would you say is the central theme of the book?a central figure (=an important person with a lot of influence)During this time he was a central figure in American politics.a central featureCultural diversity is a central feature of modern British society.be of central importanceLoving care is of central importance to a child’s development.a central concernEnvironmental problems are now a central concern.a central ideaThis was a central idea in Marxist theory.a central argument (=the main set of reasons for or against something)Let’s consider the central argument for reducing the voting age.a central aspectThe spread of ideas is a central aspect of globalization. Examples from the Corpus
central• the tropical rainforest in central Africa• the farming areas of central California• Wingo is the troubled central character of Conroy's novel.• Political rights have always been the central concern of feminism.• The houses face onto a central courtyard.• The computers are linked to a central database.• The central dogma is of course a theory, but there is no evidence to suggest that it is wrong.• a house with central heating• This review examines the evidence that abnormal oxidative metabolism is of central importance to active inflammatory bowel disease.• The use of weapons became the central issue dividing the tribes.• Crime is going to be the central issue of the mayoral campaign.• But this lofty and detached comment misses the central issues of comparison and equality in penal treatment.• central London• On the contrary, it involves a recognition of its central mediating role in the use and learning of language.• Centrophenoxine had the strongest biological activity, producing a mild stimulation of the central nervous system.• The central part of the building tends to be warmer in the winter.• Obviously, if a party changes its central principles, it becomes another party.• The central theme of this novel is the desire for money.• The right to vote is central to our democratic system of government.central to• Most of the foods central to Portuguese cooking are common in our kitchens.-central-central /sentrəl/ suffix [in nouns] informal full of a particular type of thing or person It was mosquito-central down by the river. In the 1990s, London’s docklands became yuppie-central (=full of rich young people). 