center

noun

1. 1

   a position on a basketball team of the player who participates in the jump that starts the game

2. 2

   (American football) the position of the player on the line of scrimmage who puts the ball in play

   it is a center's responsibility to get the football to the quarterback

3. 3

   the position on a hockey team of the player who participates in the face off at the beginning of the game

4. 4

   a building dedicated to a particular activity

   they were raising money to build a new center for research

5. 5

   the piece of ground in the outfield directly ahead of the catcher

   he hit the ball to deep center

6. 6

   mercantile establishment consisting of a carefully landscaped complex of shops representing leading merchandisers; usually includes restaurants and a convenient parking area; a modern version of the traditional marketplace

   a good plaza should have a movie house

   they spent their weekends at the local malls

7. 7

   a cluster of nerve cells governing a specific bodily process

   in most people the speech center is in the left hemisphere

8. 8

   the object upon which interest and attention focuses

   his stories made him the center of the party

9. 9

   the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience

   the gist of the prosecutor's argument

   the heart and soul of the Republican Party

10. 10

    the sweet central portion of a piece of candy that is enclosed in chocolate or some other covering

11. 11

    politically moderate persons; centrists

12. 12

    the middle of a military or naval formation

    they had to reinforce the center