central */*/*/

UK [ˈsentrəl] / US adjective

1) [only before noun] the central part of a place is the area in the middle of it

They live in central London.

some regions of central and eastern Asia

a) [only before noun] a central place is in the middle of something

The hotel's rooms are built around a central courtyard.

b) used for saying that something is in the middle of an area, so it is very convenient for using shops, theatres etc

My flat is very central.

a central location:

All hotels have been specially selected for their central location.

2)

a) a central idea, aspect, system etc is one of the main ones that is used or needed

He played a central role in the development of US economic policy.

a central feature:

Political life has changed since broadcasting became a central feature of our lives.

central to:

Her work remains central to an understanding of this period of history.

central in:

issues that are central in the lives of women prisoners

of central importance (= very important):

Listening skills are of central importance to a child's development.

b) something that is central is extremely important, and often causes something else to happen or develop

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Collocations:
Nouns frequently used with central
▪  argument, aspect, debate, feature, idea, importance, issue, role, theme

3) [only before noun] central control comes from one main organization that usually tells a lot of smaller organizations what they should do

The system is subject to massive and increasing central control.

a) a central organization is a main organization that controls a lot of smaller ones

the Communist Party's central committee

b) used in the names of organizations

workers at Conservative Central Office

Derived word:
centrality
UK [senˈtrælɪtɪ] / US noun uncountable