cen·tre1 British EnglishBrE, center American English /ˈsentə $ -ər/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 middle 中间 [countableC usually singular]MIDDLE the middle of a space, area, or object, especially the exact middle 〔空间、地域或物体的〕(正)中间,中心(点)in the centre (of something) There was an enormous oak table in the center of the room. 房间中央有一张巨大的橡木桌子。
The hotel is right in the centre of the village. 这家旅馆在村子的正中心。
centre of Draw a line through the centre of the circle. 穿过圆心画一条直线。
lines radiating out from the centre 从中心向外辐射的线条
chocolates with soft centres 软夹心巧克力
2 building 建筑物 [countableC]TBB a building which is used for a particular purpose or activity 〔供进行某种活动用的〕中心centre for the European Centre for Nuclear Research 欧洲核研究中心
an exhibition at the Community Arts Centre 在社区艺术中心举办的展览
3 place of activity 活动场所 [countableC]IMPORTANT a place where there is a lot of a particular type of business, activity etc 〔某种商业或其他活动的〕中心(地区)business/commercial/financial etc centre a major banking centre 一个主要的银行业中心
It’s not exactly a cultural center like Paris. 它并不是一个像巴黎那样的文化中心。
centre of/for The city became a centre for the paper industry. 该市成了造纸业的中心。
a center of academic excellence (=a very good place for education) 优质教育中心
4 of a town 城镇的 [countableC] British EnglishBrEAREA the part of a town or city where most of the shops, restaurants, cinemas, theatres etc are 〔集中了大部分商店、餐厅、电影院、剧院等的〕城镇的中心 SYN American English downtowntown/city centre shops in the town centre 镇中心的商店
the main route into Leeds city centre 通往利兹市中心的主要路线
5 INVOLVEMENT 参与be at the centre of something if a person or thing is at the centre of something that is happening, they are involved in it more than other people or things 是某事的中心人物;处于某事的中心 He always seems to be at the centre of things. 他好像总是中心人物。
be at the centre of a row/dispute/controversy etc the businessman at the centre of the row over political donations 处于政治捐款风波中心的企业家
6 be the centre of attention to be the person that everyone is giving attention to 成为关注的焦点,引人注目 Betty just loves being the centre of attention. 贝蒂就是喜欢成为大家关注的焦点。
be the centre of attention• I loved talking and being the centre of attention, so I was chosen to be spokesperson.• You can be the centre of attention in a conversation but then the focus changes as new participants enter the dialogue.• Once, when he was the centre of attention at the youth club I saw him do it again.• There were more junior officials around them, and Pink was the centre of attention.• Trust Claire to act as if she were the centre of attention.• She was the centre of attention - like all brides.• I like to be the centre of attention or in the public eye 12.• Do they want to be the centre of attention?• And the tower is the centre of attention every May morning when the choir sings out across the rooftops. 7 be/take centre stage if something or someone is centre stage, they have an important position and get a lot of attention 处于重要位置,成为关注的中心 After his father’s death, he was able to rise to power and take centre stage. 父亲去世后他就掌握了大权并且身居要职。
8 POLITICS 政治the centre PPGa moderate (=middle) position in politics in which you do not support extreme ideas 中间派[立场],温和派 The party’s new policies show a swing towards the centre. 该党的新政策显示出一种向中间立场的转变。
left/right of centre Her political views are slightly left of centre. 她的政治观点属于中间略微偏左。
centre-right/centre-left a centre-left government 中间偏左的政府
the centre• The party seems to be becoming less radical, and drifting more towards the centre.• The party has moved towards the centre in recent years. 9 sport 体育运动 [countableC]DSB a player in sports such as American football and basketball who plays in or near the middle of the field or playing area 〔美式橄榄球、篮球等的〕中锋 the Sonics’ six-foot-four-inch center 身高六英尺四英寸的超音速队中锋
centre forward/half/back etc (=players in different parts of the middle section of the playing area) 中锋/中前卫/中后卫等
→5 see picture at 见图 basketball 10 centre of population/urban centre AREAan area where a large number of people live 人口密集地区 Nuclear installations are built well away from the main centres of population. 核设施建在远离主要人口密集地区的地方。
n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: a building which is used for a particular purpose or activitytypes of centrea shopping centreThey are building a huge new shopping centre just outside the town.
an information centreFor further details contact the Tourist Information Centre.
a visitor centreThe forest has a visitor centre with information and refreshment facilities.
a leisure centre British EnglishBrE (=for sport and other leisure activities)There's a leisure centre with a swimming pool, a sauna, and a gymnasium.
a sports centreYou could join exercise classes at your local sports centre.
a garden centre British EnglishBrE (=where you can buy plants, trees etc)The garden centre stocks a wide variety of houseplants.
an arts centre (=for art, music, theatre, film etc)Shall we go to the concert at the arts centre on Saturday?
an exhibition centreThe exhibition centre has an interesting display of contemporary art.
a research centrethe new research centre at King's College Hospital
a conference centreWestgate Hotel has sixty bedrooms and a conference centre.
a training centreHe was a new recruit at the police training centre.
a health/medical centre (=where there are several doctors you can see for medical treatment)The village has a small school and a health centre.
a day centre British EnglishBrE (=where old, sick etc people can go during the day to be looked after)A new day centre for the over 70s has recently opened.
a community centre (=where people living in an area can go for social events, classes etc)The church has been converted into a community centre.
an education centreMany elderly people come to the education centre to learn to use computers.
a job centre (=a place in Britain where jobs are advertised)I got the job through an advertisement at the job centre.
a youth centre (=where young people can go to meet and take part in activities)The money will be used to provide a youth centre.
n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 3: a place where there is a lot of a particular type of business, activity etctypes of centrea financial centreBoston is a leading financial centre.
a business centreThe company has branches worldwide in fifteen major business centres.
a commercial centreOur city is the biggest commercial centre in the country.
a cultural centreParis was then the cultural centre of Europe.
a tourist centreOur destination was Queenstown, a tourist centre set amid mountains and lakes.
a trading centreThe town was a trading centre for the Romans.
a major centre for/of somethingThe region has been named as a major centre of international terrorism.
a world centre for/of somethingThe Asian Pacific Rim is a major world centre of commerce, industry, and economic activity.
an international centre for/of somethingZurich is an international centre of finance.
a national centre for/of somethingThe gardens are a national centre for botanical research.