Center: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from the Latin 'centrum,' which means 'the point which is equally distant from all edges.'
• In Middle English, the term evolved from the Old French 'centre' and was adopted in the 14th century.
• Its Greek origin 'kentron' refers to 'sharp point'—like the middle of a wheel where all spokes meet.

Mathematics

• In geometry, the center of a circle is equidistant from all points on its circumference.
• The coordinates of a center point in a 2D space are calculated using the average of the x and y coordinates of all outer points.
• In statistics, the median is often considered the center point of a data set, where half the numbers are below and half are above.

Cultural Significance

• In many cultures, the center is associated with balance and stability, such as in Feng Shui, which emphasizes harmony in living spaces.
• Indigenous cultures often regard the center of their land as sacred, representing their connection to heritage and community.
• The United Nations has its headquarters at the center of New York City, symbolizing diplomacy and cooperation among nations.

Literature

• Many stories use the concept of a center, where the protagonist must journey from an outer position to find their true self at the story's core.
• In poetry, the center of a line can be a powerful focal point, drawing attention to love, loss, or identity.
• Great works like Dante’s 'Divine Comedy' explore concepts of the center of human experience, integrating moral lessons.

Science

• In physics, the center of mass is a crucial concept, indicating the average position of mass in a body, crucial for understanding motion.
• Astronomically, the center of our solar system is the sun, around which all planets, including Earth, orbit.
• Cell biology refers to the nucleus as the center of control for genetic information and cellular activities.

Positioned at #1,057, this word is part of core intermediate vocabulary. It appears regularly in various contexts and is essential for natural-sounding English.

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