/sen"cheuh ree/ , n. , pl. centuries .
1. a period of 100 years.
2. one of the successive periods of 100 years reckoned forward or backward from a recognized chronological epoch, esp. from the assumed date of the birth of Jesus.
3. any group or collection of 100: a century of limericks.
4. (in the ancient Roman army) a company, consisting of approximately 100 men.
5. one of the voting divisions of the ancient Roman people, each division having one vote.
6. ( cap. ) Print. a style of type.
7. Slang. a hundred-dollar bill; 100 dollars.
8. Sports. a race of 100 yards or meters, as in track or swimming, or of 100 miles, as in bicycle racing.
9. Cricket. a score of at least 100 runs made by one batsman in a single inning.
[ 1525-35; centuria unit made up of 100 parts, esp. company of soldiers, equiv. to cent ( um ) 100 + -uria, perh. extracted from decuria DECURY ]