central

adjective

OPAL W OPAL S

/ˈsentrəl/

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in the centre of an area or object在中心的；中央的
- central London伦敦中心区
- Central America/Europe/Asia中美洲；中欧；中亚
- There will be rain later in central and eastern parts of the country.该国中部和东部稍后将有雨。
- the central area of the brain大脑中枢
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
adverb
- fairly
- quite
- very
- …
See full entry
easily reached from many areas容易到达的；交通方便的；四通八达的
- The flat is very central—just five minutes from Princes Street.这座公寓位于市中心，离王子街只需要五分钟。
- The offices are in a central location.那些办公楼处于中心位置。
- Our house is very central, so we can easily get to theatres and restaurants.我们的房子在市中心，所以我们可以很容易地去剧院和餐馆。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
adverb
- fairly
- quite
- very
- …
See full entry
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。
- The gap between rich and poor is becoming a central theme of the election.贫富差距正在成为选举的中心主题。
- She plays the central character Alexandra.她扮演主角亚历山德拉。
- central to something 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。
Synonyms main
main
- major
- key
- central
- principal
- chief
- prime
These words all describe somebody/something that is the largest or most important of its kind.
- main [only before noun] largest or most important:
  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:
  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。
  When major is used with the or my/your/his/her/our/their it means ‘the largest or most important’: Our major concern here is combating poverty. 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: Be careful crossing the major road. • The major thing is to remain calm.
- key [usually before noun] most important; essential:
  He was a key figure in the campaign.他是这场运动的关键人物。
  Key is used most frequently in business and political contexts. It can be used to talk about ideas, or the part that somebody plays in a situation, but not physical things. It is slightly more informal than major, especially when used after a noun and linking verb: Speed is key at this point.
- 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到处泛滥。
  Central is used in a similar way to key, but is more formal. It is most frequently used in the phrase something is central to something else.
- principal [only before noun] (rather formal) most important:指最重要的、首要的、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。
  Principal is mostly used for statements of fact about which there can be no argument. To state an opinion, or to try to persuade somebody of the facts as you see them, it is more usual to use key or central: The key/central issue here is…
- 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:
  My prime concern is to protect my property.我最关心的是保护自己的财产。
Patterns
- a/the main/major/key/central/principal/chief/prime aim/concern
- a/the main/major/principal road/town/city
- the main/key thing is to…
- to be of major/key/central/prime importance
Extra Examples
- These facts are central to the case.这些事实对案情至关重要。
- This distinction is of absolutely central importance.这一差别极为重要。
- Alienation is a central motif in her novels.疏离是她小说的中心主题。
- What is the central truth of all his religious teaching?他所有宗教教义的中心真理是什么？
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
adverb
- very
- absolutely
- increasingly
- …
preposition
- to
See full entry
having power or control over other parts起支配作用的；有控制力的
- the central committee (= of a political party)（政党的）中央委员会
- The organization has a central office in York.该组织在约克设有总部。
(phonetics语音学) (of a vowel元音) produced with the centre of the tongue in a higher position than the front or the back, for example /ɜː/ in bird中央的（发音时舌高点在口腔中间位置） compare back, front

Word Originmid 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’.