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cen•tered adj. [sometimes: after a noun or verb]

having (a certain thing) as a central focus or base: a family-centered activity.
[ noun + ~ + on + obj] focused;
fixed:an obsession centered on germs.
at the same distance from all areas;
situated in the center:pages with centered text.
[ often: verb + ~] inwardly calm and steady:Stay centered and you'll do fine on the test.

cen•tered adj.

having a central axis:a centered arc.
equidistant from all bordering or adjacent areas;
situated in the center:The illustration was centered on the page.
Printingset above the base line at approximately the level of the hyphen:a centered dot between syllables.

center + -ed³ 1580–90

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

centered /ˈsɛntəd/ adj

the US spelling of centred

cen•ter n.

[countable]

the middle part or point of something;
core:the center of town; the center of the earth.
Mathematicsthe point equally distant from all sides of an object;
a point around which a circle may be drawn;
a point around which something revolves or turns:Measure the circle from the center to any point on the edge to get the radius.
[usually singular;
usually: the + ~] the source of an influence, action, or force: the center of a problem.
a focus, as of interest or concern:For a few moments she was the center of attention.
a principal point, place, or object: a shipping center.
a building or part of a building that is used as a meeting place, or that deals with a particular subject, emergency, etc.:A crisis center was set up during the flood emergency.
shopping center.
Government[usually: Center]
- Government(esp. in Europe) the members of a parliament who hold views between those of the Right and Left and who sit in the center of the chamber.

to place in or on a center;
move, or adjust to or on a center:[~ + object]centered the subject in the camera's viewfinder.
to collect to or around a center;
focus;
concentrate: [~ + object + on + object]He centered his novel on the Civil War.[~ + on/around + object]His novel centers on the Civil War.

adj.

(of a political party or position) considered moderate or in between the left and right positions:a center party.

Also, esp. Brit., ˈcen•tre.

cen•ter n.

Mathematics[Geom.]the middle point, as the point within a circle or sphere equally distant from all points of the circumference or surface, or the point within a regular polygon equally distant from the vertices.
a point, pivot, axis, etc., around which anything rotates or revolves:The sun is the center of the solar system.
the source of an influence, action, force, etc.:the center of a problem.
a point, place, person, etc., upon which interest, emotion, etc., focuses:His family is the center of his life.
a principal point, place, or object:a shipping center.
a building or part of a building used as a meeting place for a particular group or having facilities for certain activities:a youth center; The company has a complete recreation center in the basement.
an office or other facility providing a specific service or dealing with a particular emergency:a flood-relief center; a crisis center.
a person, thing, group, etc., occupying the middle position, esp. a body of troops.
the core or middle of anything:chocolate candies with fruit centers.
a store or establishment devoted to a particular subject or hobby, carrying supplies, materials, tools, and books as well as offering guidance and advice:a garden center; a nutrition center.
See shopping center.
Government(usually cap.)
- the part of a legislative assembly, esp. in continental Europe, that sits in the center of the chamber, a position customarily assigned to members of the legislature who hold political views intermediate between those of the Right and Left.
- the members of such an assembly who sit in the Center.
- the political position of persons who hold moderate views.
- politically moderate persons, taken collectively;
  Centrists;
  middle-of-the-roaders:Unfortunately, his homeland has always lacked a responsible Center.
Sport[Football.]
- a lineman who occupies a position in the middle of the line and who puts the ball into play by tossing it between his legs to a back.
- the position played by this lineman.
Sport[Basketball.]
- a player who participates in a center jump.
- the position of the player in the center of the court, where the center jump takes place at the beginning of play.
Sport[Ice Hockey.]a player who participates in a face-off at the beginning of play.
Sport[Baseball.]See center field.
Physiologya cluster of nerve cells governing a specific organic process:the vasomotor center.
Mathematics
- the mean position of a figure or system.
- the set of elements of a group that commute with every element of the group.
[Mach.]
- Mechanical Engineeringa tapered rod, mounted in the headstock spindle (live center) or the tailstock spindle (dead center)of a lathe, upon which the work to be turned is placed.
- Mechanical Engineeringone of two similar points on some other machine, as a planing machine, enabling an object to be turned on its axis.
- Mechanical Engineeringa tapered indentation, in a piece to be turned on a lathe, into which a center is fitted.
Building, Idioms on center, from the centerline or midpoint of a structural member, an area of a plan, etc., to that of a similar member, area, etc.:The studs are set 30 inches on center. Abbr.:o.c.

v.t.

to place in or on a center:She centered the clock on the mantelpiece.
to collect to or around a center;
focus:He centered his novel on the Civil War.
to determine or mark the center of:A small brass star centered the tabletop.
to adjust, shape, or modify (an object, part, etc.) so that its axis or the like is in a central or normal position:to center the lens of a telescope; to center the work on a lathe.
to place (an object, part, etc.) so as to be equidistant from all bordering or adjacent areas.
Sport[Football.]snap (def. 20).
to pass (a basketball, hockey puck, etc.) from any place along the periphery toward the middle of the playing area.

v.i.

to be at or come to a center.
to come to a focus;
converge;
concentrate (fol. by at, about, around, in, or on):The interest of the book centers specifically on the character of the eccentric hero. Political power in the town centers in the position of mayor.
to gather or accumulate in a cluster;
collect (fol. by at, about, around, in, or on):Shops and municipal buildings center around the city square.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] centre.

Greek kéntron needle, spur, pivoting point in drawing a circle, derivative of kenteîn to sting
Latin centrum
variant of Middle English centre 1325–75