/ ˈsentrəl; NAmE / adjective
1.
most important :
The central issue is that of widespread racism.
She has been a central figure in the campaign.
Prevention also plays a central role in traditional medicine.
Reducing inflation is central to (= is an important part of) the government's economic policy.
➡ note at main
2.
having power or control over other parts :
the central committee (= of a political party)
The organization has a central office in York.
3.
in the centre of an area or object :
central London
Central America / Europe / Asia
the central area of the brain
4.
easily reached from many areas :
The flat is very central—just five minutes from Princes Street.
a central location
5.
( phonetics ) ( of a vowel ) produced with the centre of the tongue in a higher position than the front or the back, for example /ɜ:/ in bird
—compare back , front
► cen·tral·ity / senˈtræləti; NAmE / noun [ U ] ( formal ):
the centrality of the family as a social institution
► cen·tral·ly / ˈsentrəli; NAmE / adverb :
The hotel is centrally located for all major attractions.
a centrally planned economy
Is the house centrally heated (= does it have central heating) ?
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from French , or from Latin centralis , from centrum , from Greek kentron sharp point, stationary point of a pair of compasses, related to kentein to prick.