Central ˈsentrəl Parts Area Adjective London America/Europe/Asia Rain

• central london
• central america/europe/asia
• there will be rain later in central and eastern parts of the country.
• the central area of the brain

central

1. in the centre of an area or object
• central London
• Central America/Europe/Asia
• There will be rain later in central and eastern parts of the country.
• the central area of the brain
2. easily reached from many areas
• The flat is very central—just five minutes from Princes Street.
• The offices are in a central location.
• Our house is very central, so we can easily get to theatres and restaurants.
3. most important
• The central issue is that of widespread racism.
• She has been a central figure in the campaign.
• Prevention also plays a central role in traditional medicine.
• The gap between rich and poor is becoming a central theme of the election.
• She plays the central character Alexandra.
• Reducing inflation is central to (= is an important part of) the government's economic policy.

Extra Examples

• These facts are central to the case.
• This distinction is of absolutely central importance.
• Alienation is a central motif in her novels.
• What is the central truth of all his religious teaching?
4. having power or control over other parts
• the central committee (= of a political party)
• The organization has a central office in York.
5. produced with the centre of the tongue in a higher position than the front or the back, for example /ɜː/ in bird
• COMPARE back
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/back_3

Word Origin

• mid 17th cent.: from French, or from Latin centralis, from centrum, from Greek kentron ‘sharp point, stationary point of a pair of compasses’, related to kentein ‘to prick’.