I. ˈsen.trəl adjective
( sometimes -er/-est )
Etymology: Latin centralis, from centrum center — more at center
1. : containing or constituting a center : relevant or pertinent to a center
the sun having a central place in the solar system
the central areas
2. : belonging to the center as most important part : basic , essential , principal , dominant : not peripheral or incidental : cardinally related
these efforts have been marginal and not central — Max Lerner
ethical values central to the democratic way of life — Sidney Hook
the central virtues … courage, honor, faithfulness, veracity, justice — Walter Lippmann
a notion central to his beliefs
3.
a. : situated at, in, or near the center : occupying a center : proceeding from a center
the central block of the city
the central part of the state
b. : placed at a center and accessible from all outlying points without undue or disproportionate difficulty
a new theater in a central location
4.
a. : centrally placed and superseding or eliminating separate scattered units
central heating
central offices
b. : controlling or directing local or branch activities : constituting a governing or administrative center
decided by the central committee
5. : holding to a middle course or position between extremes : moderate , center
6.
a. : of or concerning the centrum of a vertebra
b. : of, relating to, or indicating the part of the nervous system comprising the brain and spinal cord — distinguished from peripheral
7. of a vowel : articulated at a point in the oral passage between front and back
II. noun
( -s )
1. sometimes capitalizeditalized
a. : a telephone exchange
b. : a telephone operator — now usually called operator
ask central to cancel the call
2. : centrale
3. : a central office or bureau usually controlling or dominating others
central ran the various branches
4. usually capitalized : a branch of the Niger-Congo language family including Bantu, Ekoi, Ibibio, and Tiv
III. sen.ˈträl noun
( plural centrals -lz ; or centra·les -ä(ˌ)lās)
Etymology: American Spanish, from Spanish central, adjective, from Latin centralis
in Spanish America & the Philippines : a mill for making raw sugar out of cane