of or forming the center

the central hut in the village.

in, at, or near the center

a central position.

constituting something from which other related things proceed or upon which they depend

a central office.

principal; chief; dominant

the play's central character.

Anatomy, Zoology .

of or pertaining to the central nervous system.

of or pertaining to the centrum of a vertebra.

Phonetics . (of a speech sound) produced with the tongue articulating neither expressly forward nor in the back part of the mouth, as any of the sounds of lull.

Physics . (of a force) directed to or from a fixed point.

(formerly)

a main telephone exchange.

a telephone operator at such an exchange.

adjective

exterior , minor , outside , peripheral , secondary

adjective

axial , basic , cardinal , center , centric , centroidal , chief , dominant , equidistant , essential , focal , foremost , fundamental , important , inmost , inner , interior , intermediate , key , leading , master , mean , median , mid , middle , middlemost , midmost , midway , nuclear , outstanding , overriding , paramount , pivotal , predominant , primary , prime , radical , ruling , salient , significant , umbilical , medial , middle-of-the-road , among , capital , centrical , main