late 14c., "middle point of a circle; point round which something revolves," from Old French centre (14c.), from Latin centrum "center," originally fixed point of the two points of a drafting compass, from Greek kentron "sharp point, goad, sting of a wasp," from kentein "stitch," from PIE root *kent- "to prick" (cognates: Breton kentr "a spur," Welsh cethr "nail," Old High German hantag "sharp, pointed").
Figuratively from 1680s. Meaning "the middle of anything" attested from 1590s. Spelling with -re popularized in Britain by Johnson's dictionary (following Bailey's), though -er is older and was used by Shakespeare, Milton, and Pope. Center of gravity is recorded from 1650s. Center of attention is from 1868.
center (v.)
1590s, "to concentrate at a center," from center (n.). Related: Centered; centering. Meaning "to rest as at a center" is from 1620s. Sports sense of "to hit toward the center" is from 1890. To be centered on is from 1713. In combinations, -centered is attested by 1958.
实用例句
1. The reader is cross - referenced to the entry " center " .
读者可参见 center 词条.来自《简明英汉词典》
2. Volunteers constitute more than 95% of The Center's work force.
该中心95%以上的工作人员是志愿者.来自柯林斯例句
3. The Leisure Center is a long and low modern building.
休闲中心是一座狭长而低矮的现代建筑。来自柯林斯例句
4. He is currently being held in a metropolitan correctional center.
他现在被关在一个大城市的改造中心。来自柯林斯例句
5. They ran to the center of the tent to take their bows.
