central

Word family

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Government

cen·tral /ˈsentrəl/ S1 W1 adjective 1 middle 中间的 [only before noun, no comparative]MIDDLE in the middle of an area or an object 中心的，中部的，在中间的 He lives in central London. 他住在伦敦市中心。 The roof is supported by a central column. 屋顶由一根中心柱支撑着。Central America/Asia/Europe etc 中美洲/中亚/中欧等2 from one place 来自一处 [only before noun, no comparative]PG used about the part of an organization, system etc which controls the rest of it, or its work 中心的，中央的〔用于指组织、系统等中控制其他部分或工作的部分〕 the party’s central office 该党的中央办公楼 the system’s central control unit 该系统的中心控制部件 central planning 中央计划3 important 重要的BASIC more important and having more influence than anything else 重要的，主要的central to values which are central to our society 我们社会的核心价值观 Owen played a central role in the negotiations. 欧文在谈判中担任了重要角色。 His ideas were of central importance in the development of the theory. 他的观点在这一理论的发展过程中起了至关重要的作用。central idea/theme/concern etc Education has become a central issue in public debate. 教育成了公开辩论的中心话题。► see thesaurus at important, main4 easy access 容易到达的MIDDLE a place that is central is easy to reach because it is near the middle of a town or area 靠近中心区的；易于到达的 It’s very central, just five minutes’ walk from the main square. 那地方正位于市中心，从主广场走过去只需五分钟。 —centrally adverb Our office is centrally situated. 我们的办公楼地处市中心。 All data is held centrally. 所有的数据都集中保存。 —centrality /senˈtræləti/ noun [uncountable]n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 3: more important and having more influence than anything elsenounsa central role/partThe report emphasizes the central role of science in society.a central issueEducation is a central issue for the government.a central themeWhat would you say is the central theme of the book?a central figure (=an important person with a lot of influence)During this time he was a central figure in American politics.a central featureCultural diversity is a central feature of modern British society.be of central importanceLoving care is of central importance to a child’s development.a central concernEnvironmental problems are now a central concern.a central ideaThis was a central idea in Marxist theory.a central argument (=the main set of reasons for or against something)Let’s consider the central argument for reducing the voting age.a central aspectThe spread of ideas is a central aspect of globalization.

Examples from the Corpus

central• the tropical rainforest in central Africa• the farming areas of central California• Wingo is the troubled central character of Conroy's novel.• Political rights have always been the central concern of feminism.• The houses face onto a central courtyard.• The computers are linked to a central database.• The central dogma is of course a theory, but there is no evidence to suggest that it is wrong.• a house with central heating• This review examines the evidence that abnormal oxidative metabolism is of central importance to active inflammatory bowel disease.• The use of weapons became the central issue dividing the tribes.• Crime is going to be the central issue of the mayoral campaign.• But this lofty and detached comment misses the central issues of comparison and equality in penal treatment.• central London• On the contrary, it involves a recognition of its central mediating role in the use and learning of language.• Centrophenoxine had the strongest biological activity, producing a mild stimulation of the central nervous system.• The central part of the building tends to be warmer in the winter.• Obviously, if a party changes its central principles, it becomes another party.• The central theme of this novel is the desire for money.• The right to vote is central to our democratic system of government.central to• Most of the foods central to Portuguese cooking are common in our kitchens.-central /sentrəl/ suffix [in nouns] informal full of a particular type of thing or person 〔某类东西或人〕泛滥的，充斥的 It was mosquito-central down by the river. 河边蚊子成群。 In the 1990s, London’s docklands became yuppie-central (=full of rich young people). 20世纪90年代，伦敦的码头区雅皮士云集。

cen·tral adjective →n COLLOCATIONS1-central suffixLDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable

the an Corpus an middle in or of area object

central
cen‧tral S1 W1 /ˈsentrəl/

adjective

Word Family: noun: CENTRE/CENTER, centralization ≠ decentralization, centralism, centrist; adjective: central, centralized ≠ decentralized, CENTRED/CENTERED, centrist; verb: CENTRE/CENTER, centralize ≠ decentralize; adverb: centrally

1. MIDDLE [only before noun, no comparative] in the middle of an area or an object:

He lives in central London.

The roof is supported by a central column.
Central America/Asia/Europe etc
2. FROM ONE PLACE [only before noun, no comparative] used about the part of an organization, system etc which controls the rest of it, or its work:

the party’s central office

the system’s central control unit

central planning
3. IMPORTANT more important and having more influence than anything else
central to

values which are central to our society

Owen played a central role in the negotiations.

His ideas were of central importance in the development of the theory.
central idea/theme/concern etc

Education has become a central issue in public debate.
4. EASY ACCESS a place that is central is easy to reach because it is near the middle of a town or area:

It’s very central, just five minutes’ walk from the main square.
—centrally adverb:

Our office is centrally situated.

All data is held centrally.
—centrality /senˈtræləti, senˈtrælɪti/ noun [uncountable]

COLLOCATIONS

(for Meaning 3)

■ nouns
   ▪ a central role/part The report emphasizes the central role of science in society.
   ▪ a central issue Education is a central issue for the government.
   ▪ a central theme What would you say is the central theme of the book?
   ▪ a central figure (=an important person with a lot of influence) During this time he was a central figure in American politics.
   ▪ a central feature Cultural diversity is a central feature of modern British society.
   ▪ be of central importance Loving care is of central importance to a child’s development.
   ▪ a central concern Environmental problems are now a central concern.
   ▪ a central idea This was a central idea in Marxist theory.
   ▪ a central argument (=the main set of reasons for or against something) Let’s consider the central argument for reducing the voting age.
   ▪ a central aspect The spread of ideas is a central aspect of globalization.

🔑 cen·tral

BrE

/ˈsentrəl/

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NAmE

/ˈsentrəl/

🔊

adjective

🔑

most important 最重要的；首要的；主要的

◆The central issue is that of widespread racism. 最重要的问题是种族主义到处泛滥。

🔊

◆She has been a central figure in the campaign. 她一直是这场运动的主要人物。

🔊

◆Prevention also plays a central role in traditional medicine. 预防在传统医学中也起着主导作用。

🔊

◆Reducing inflation is

central to

(= is an important part of)

the government's economic policy. 减少通货膨胀是政府经济政策重要的组成部分。

🔊

<titled tranID="44" status="1">main</titled>major ◇ key ◇ central ◇ principal ◇ chief ◇ prime

These words all describe sb/sth that is the largest or most important of its kind. 以上各词均用以形容主要的、最重要的人或事物。

main [only before noun] largest or most important 指主要的、最重要的：◆Be careful crossing the main road. 过大马路时小心点。◆The main thing is to remain calm. 最重要的是要保持冷静。
major [usually before noun] very large or important 指主要的、重要的、大的：◆He played a major role in setting up the system. 他在建立这个系统的过程中起了主要的作用。 NOTE Major is most often used after a with a singular noun, or no article with a plural noun. When it is used with the or my/your/his/her/our/their it means 'the largest or most important'. * major 最常用于不定冠词 a 之后，与单数名词连用；或不用冠词，与复数名词连用。major 与 the 或 my/your/his/her/our/their 连用时意为最主要的、最重要的：◆Our major concern here is combatting poverty. 在这里我们最关心的是解决贫穷问题。 In this meaning it is only used to talk about ideas or worries that people have, not physical things, and it is also more formal than main. 在该含义中 major 只用以指人的想法或担忧，而非物质的东西，且较 main 正式：◆Be careful crossing the major road.◆The major thing is to remain calm.
key [usually before noun] most important; essential 指最重要的、主要的、关键的：◆He was a key figure in the campaign. 他是这场运动的关键人物。 NOTE Key is used most frequently in business and political contexts. It can be used to talk about ideas, or the part that sb plays in a situation, but not physical things. It is slightly more informal than major, especially when used after a noun and linking verb. * key 最常用于商务和政治语境，可用来形容想法或某人在某情势下起的作用，而非物质的东西。key 较 major 稍非正式，用于名词加连系动词后尤其如此：◆Speed is key at this point. 在这个时候速度是关键。
central (rather formal) most important 指最重要的、首要的、主要的：◆The central issue is that of widespread racism. 最重要的问题是种族主义泛滥。 NOTE Central is used in a similar way to key, but is more formal. It is most frequently used in the phrase sth is central to sth else. * central 与 key 用法相似，但更正式，最常用于 be central to 短语中。
principal [only before noun] (rather formal) most important 指最重要的、主要的：◆The principal reason for this omission is lack of time. 跳过它的主要原因是时间不足。 NOTE Principal is mostly used for statements of fact about which there can be no argument. To state an opinion, or to try to persuade sb of the facts as you see them, it is more usual to use key or central. * principal 主要用于陈述无可争辩的事实。表明意见或说服别人相信你所见到的事实，较常用 key 或 central：◆The key/central issue here is… 这里的关键问题是…
chief [only before noun] (rather formal) most important 指最重要的、首要的、主要的：◆Unemployment was the chief cause of poverty. 失业是贫穷的主要原因。
prime [only before noun] (rather formal) most important; to be considered first 指主要的、首要的：◆My prime concern is to protect my property. 我最关心的是保护自己的财产。