different between center vs quarterback

English

Alternative forms

• centre (UK, Ireland and all Commonwealth countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, etc.)

Etymology

• Borrowed from Middle French centre, from Latin centrum, from Ancient Greek ??????? (kéntron), from ??????? (kenteîn, “to prick, goad”). Doublet of centrum.
• (group theory): In the notation Z(G), the letter Z derives from the German Zentrum (“center”).

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?s?n.t?/, [?s????]
  • (pin–pen merger) IPA^(key): [?s????]
• (UK) IPA^(key): /?s?n.t?(?)/
• Hyphenation: cen?ter
• Rhymes: -?nt?(?)
• Homophone: sinner (pin-pen merger)
• Homophone: centre

Noun

center (plural centers) (American spelling) (Canadian spelling, alternate)

1. The point in the interior of a circle that is equidistant from all points on the circumference. [from 14th c.]
   • 1908, Thomas L. Heath, translating Euclid, Elements, III.9:

     If a point be taken within a circle, and more than two equal straight lines fall from the point on the circle, the point taken is the centre of the circle.

2. The point in the interior of a sphere that is equidistant from all points on the circumference. [from 14th c.]
   • 2005, David Adam, The Guardian, 4 Jun 2005:

     Japanese scientists are to explore the centre of the Earth. Using a giant drill ship launched next month, the researchers aim to be the first to punch a hole through the rocky crust that covers our planet and to reach the mantle below.

3. The middle portion of something; the part well away from the edges.
4. (geometry) The point on a line that is midway between the ends.
5. (geometry) The point in the interior of any figure of any number of dimensions that has as its coordinates the arithmetic mean of the coordinates of all points on the perimeter of the figure (or of all points in the interior for a center of volume).
6. (group theory, ring theory) The subgroup (respectively, subring), denoted Z(G), of those elements of a given group (respectively, ring) G that commute with every element of G.
7. A place where the greater part of some function or activity occurs.

   shopping center, convention center, civic center, garment center, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Rockefeller Center

8. A topic that is particularly important in a given context.

   the center of the controversy

   the center of attention

9. (sports) A player in the middle of the playing area
   1. (basketball) The player, generally the tallest, who plays closest to the basket.
   2. (ice hockey) The forward that generally plays between the left wing and right wing and usually takes the faceoffs.
   3. (American football, Canadian football) The person who holds the ball at the beginning of each play.
10. (netball) A player who can go all over the court, except the shooting circles.
11. (soccer) A pass played into the centre of the pitch.
12. (rugby) One of the backs operating in a central area of the pitch, either the inside centre or outside centre.
13. (architecture) A temporary structure upon which the materials of a vault or arch are supported in position until the work becomes self-supporting.
14. (engineering) One of the two conical steel pins in a lathe, etc., upon which the work is held, and about which it revolves.
15. (engineering) A conical recess or indentation in the end of a shaft or other work, to receive the point of a center, on which the work can turn, as in a lathe.
16. (politics) The ensemble of moderate or centrist political parties.
17. (Australia, New Zealand) The ring in the gambling game two-up in which the spinner operates.

Synonyms

• (point on a line midway between the ends): midpoint; see also Thesaurus:midpoint
• (point in the interior of figure with mean coordinates): centroid, center of gravity, center of mass
• (middle portion of something): middle, midst

Antonyms

• periphery

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

center (not comparable) (American spelling)

1. Of, at, or related to a center.

Synonyms

• central

Translations

Verb

center (third-person singular simple present centers, present participle centering, simple past and past participle centered) (American spelling)

1. (transitive) To cause (an object) to occupy the center of an area.
   • ????, Matthew Prior, Celia to Damon

     Thy joys are centred all in me alone.

2. (transitive) To cause (some attribute, such as a mood or voltage) to be adjusted to a value which is midway between the extremes.
3. (transitive) To give (something) a central basis.
   • 2012, Michael Kaminski et al., Myth, Media, and Culture in Star Wars: An Anthology, chapter 7, 87:

     However, Lucas also centered the plot around the protection of the secret Death Star plans, which now filled the role of the clan treasure the enemy is seeking in Hidden Fortress; […]

4. (intransitive) To concentrate on (something), to pay close attention to (something).

5. (engineering) To form a recess or indentation for the reception of a center.

Usage notes

The spelling centre is standard in UK English. In Canada it is typical in proper names, e.g. Toronto Centre for the Arts, but "center" is also commonly used otherwise, e.g. shopping center, center of town. Both spellings can be encountered even in the same text; e.g. in NHL hockey where there are many Canadian and US teams, reference might be made to the "center" forward position and a "centre" where a game is played.

The indirect object of the intransitive verb is given the prepositions on, in, at, or around. At is primary used only in mathematical contexts. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary observes that center around is objected to by some people on the grounds that it is illogical, but states that it is an idiom, and thus that such objections are irrelevant. It offers revolve around as an alternative to center around for those who would avoid the idiom.

Related terms

• central

Translations

Further reading

• center in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• center in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• center at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• Centre, centre, recent, tenrec

Spanish

Noun

center m (plural centers)

1. (baseball) center

Swedish

Noun

center c or n

1. n a centre; a place where some function or activity occurs; see also centrum
2. c (uncountable, politics) the political centre, parties and politicians in between the left and right wings
3. c (sports) a centre; midplayer of a team

Declension

English

Etymology

From quarter +? back, in reference to position in front of the halfback position.

Noun

quarterback (plural quarterbacks)

1. (American football, Canadian football) An offensive back whose primary job is to pass the ball in a play.
2. (American football, historical) An offensive back who receives the snap (hike) and then blocks the defense from crossing the line of scrimmage; a blocking back.
3. (rugby football, historical) A position just behind the forwards, or one who plays this position.

Translations

Verb

quarterback (third-person singular simple present quarterbacks, present participle quarterbacking, simple past and past participle quarterbacked)

1. (American football) To play the position of quarterback.
2. (by extension) To lead a team or group; to be primarily responsible for some group project or activity.

Translations

References

Danish

Etymology

Borrowed from English quarterback.

Noun

quarterback c (singular definite quarterbacken, plural indefinite quarterbacker or quarterbacks)

1. A quarterback.
   • 2015, Jeppe Dong Abrahamsen, “Super Bowl-vinder scorer kassen med klubskifte”

     et beløb kun de allerbedste quarterbacker kan hamle op med

     a sum with which only the very best quarterbacks can compete

   • 2015, Jeppe Dong Abrahamsen and Marie Louise Balling, “Tom Brady - Super Bowl-ringenes herre”

     Seks andre quarterbacker blev valgt før ham. Seks andre spillere blev valgt af Patriots inden ham.

     Six other quarterbacks were chosen before him. Six other players were chosen by Patriots before him.

   • 2009, Anders Henriksen, Arven efter Bush, Gyldendal A/S ?ISBN, page 81

     Cheney var quarterbacken på det lokale amerikanske fodboldhold, som endte med at gifte sig med den populære pige fra skolen, Lynne Vincent. En pige, der var statsmester i 'baton-twirling'.

     Cheney was the quarterback on the local American football team, who ended up marrying the popular girl on the school, Lynne Vincent. A girl, who was a state champion in 'baton-twirling'.

   • 2014, Lee Nichols, Haunting Emma #1: Hjemsøgt, Tellerup A/S ?ISBN

     Se, det er hvad man får ud af næsten at være en slags kærester med quarterbacken. På vej gennem æblehaven reciterede Harry et digt dedikeret til Natalies røv. Helt seriøst. Det var i terza rima, fortalte han os, med parrim.

     See, that's what you get from almost sort of dating the quarterback. Walking through the apple garden, Harry recited a poem dedicated to Natalie's arse. Seriously. It was in terza rima, he told us, with couplets.

   • 2014, Alison Roberts, Laura Iding, Brændende begær/Brud til enlig far, Förlaget Harlequin AB ?ISBN

     Det havde hun sidst gjort, da hun havde været 16 og forelsket i Steven Wade, quarterbacken på skolens fodboldhold, som ikke havde vidst, at skolens største bogorm overhovedet fandtes.

     The last time she had done that, she had been 16 and in love with Steven Wade, the quarterback on the school's football team, who had not known that the greatest bookworm of the school even existed.

   • 2012, Jimmi Willemoes Jensen, “Manning sætter All Star-rekord”

     Specielt når man ser på, hvor mange andre quarterbacker, der har haft store sæsoner i AFC, ...

     Especially when you observe how many other quarterbacks have had large seasons in AFC, ...

Declension

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English quarterback.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kwa?.t??.bak/

Noun

quarterback m (plural quarterbacks)

1. quarterback

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from English quarterback.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kwa?te??bak/, [kwa?.t?e????ak]

Noun

quarterback m (plural quarterbacks)

1. quarterback