Nota: A tradução desta entrada está atualmente em revisão de qualidade, portanto parte do conteúdo é exibida temporariamente apenas em inglês.
Este verbete ainda não foi traduzido para o seu idioma, portanto o original é exibido abaixo.
centers
/ˈsɛn.tərz/
This term describes a focal point of gravity, attention, or activity. It suggests a hub where various spokes or paths converge, creating a sense of stability and centrality. In a physical sense, it is the exact midpoint; in a social sense, it is the heart of an operation.
When used to describe a facility, it implies a specialized purpose, such as a medical center or a call center. This distinguishes it from a general building by emphasizing the specific function or service provided to the people who gather there.
Countable when referring to specific buildings or hubs like a sports center. Uncountable when referring to the mathematical concept of a midpoint.
Meanings
Examples
The city has several community centers where people can take art classes.
Where are the distribution centers for the new shipment?
Where are the distribution centers for the new shipment?
The circles are drawn so that their centers overlap perfectly.
I need to find the nearest medical centers in this area.
The ancient ruins were built around two main ritual centers.
Wait, do these two orbits have the same gravitational centers?
The shopping centers are always crowded on Saturday afternoons.
She wondered if the call centers were still operating during the storm.
Collocations & Compounds
cultural centers
Noun collocation: institutions dedicated to the promotion of arts and heritage
cost centers
Noun collocation: departments within an organization that do not produce direct profit
fitness centers
Noun collocation: gyms or facilities providing exercise equipment and classes
research centers
Noun collocation: specialized facilities for scientific or academic study
Etymology
Derived from the Old French centre, which evolved from the Latin centrum, meaning the innermost point. This Latin term was borrowed from the Greek kentron, originally referring to a sharp point or a sting, later evolving to denote the central point of a circle in geometric contexts. Over centuries, the meaning expanded from a mathematical point to describe a focal point of activity or a dedicated building for specific services.