central
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- middle, inner, interior, mean, median, mid
- main, chief, essential, focal, fundamental, key, primary, principal

---

Antonyms: peripheral
Contrasted words: insignificant, minor, trivial, unimportant, borderline, marginal
Related Words: dominant, paramount, predominant, preponderant, important, significant, outstanding, salient, signal, chief, essential, foremost, leading, main, all-absorbing, controlling, master, focal, key, basic, fundamental, primary, radical

---

English Thesaurus: basic, fundamental, essential, central, main, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

-central /sentrəl/ suffix [in nouns] informal
full of a particular type of thing or person:
It was mosquito-central down by the river.
In the 1990s, London’s docklands became yuppie-central (=full of rich young people).

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

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]

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

central
adj.
I. in the centre
VERBS be
ADV. very Our house is very central, so we can easily get to theatres and cinemas.
quite

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

central
II. most important
VERBS be
ADV. absolutely This distinction is of absolutely central importance.
PREP. to These facts are central to the case.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

central

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.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

basic the basic things or information are the ones that are the most necessary, or the ones that you need to know first:
Visit our website for some basic facts about healthy eating, exercise and weight control.
Water – indeed everything basic to life here must be brought in by truck.
people's basic needs
fundamental more important than anything else - used especially when you want to emphasize what you are saying:
The fundamental problem is a lack of resources.
one of the fundamental beliefs of Christianity
These values are fundamental to our society.
essential used when talking about a particular thing or feature, which something must have in order to continue. Also used when talking about the main point, difference etc:
Freedom of the press is essential to our democracy.
Change and diversity are essential characteristics of the natural world.
The essential point is this: either we act now, or the whole future of our planet is uncertain.
One of the essential differences between humans and computers is that humans are more likely to make mistakes.
central very important and having a lot of influence or receiving a lot of attention:
Indonesia occupies a central role in this market.
Education is central to government policy.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

main larger or more important than all the others:
the main entrance of the building
the main reason for his decision
chief/principal most important. Chief and principal are more formal than main, and are often used in written English:
Coffee is the country’s principal export.
What is the company’s chief objective?
major very important or serious:
Smoking is a major cause of heart disease.
Street crime is becoming a major problem.
key most important, or the one that everything or everyone else depends on:
Education is likely to be a key issue in the election campaign.
Hooper was a key member of the team.
Diet is key.
number one especially spoken most important or best - this phrase sounds a little informal and it is used especially in spoken English:
Reliability is the number one priority.
the number one cause of death
He is still in the number one position.
primary most important - used especially about the most important aim, role, cause, or concern. Primary is more formal than main:
The primary aim of the project was to help students develop their communication skills.
Security is our primary concern.
The primary function of the university was considered to be the teaching of ‘the great cultural disciplines’.
prime very important or most important - used especially about the most important reason, cause, or aim, or about the most likely target or suspect. Prime is more formal than main:
Their prime objective is to increase profits for their shareholders.
Tourists are prime targets for theft and robbery.
core most important - used especially about the things that people should pay most attention to:
the core skills of reading and writing
He wants the company to focus on its core business - advertising.
The party’s core values are individual freedom and reducing the amount of government bureaucracy.
central most important and having more influence than anything else:
The U.S. played a central role in the peace negotiations.
a central theme of the book
The central question is, why are people still so attached to their cars?
predominant most common, typical, or important:
Yellow was the predominant colour everywhere.
High arched windows are a predominant feature in English churches.
New York still has a predominant role in the contemporary art world.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲