| 释义 |
cen·tral
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 |