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English Words Starting With C

13,732 entries — pick a word to see its definition, pronunciation, and usage.

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Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Plural noun Combining form Verb (transitive)Verb (intransitive)Verb (ambitransitive)

centrepiece
nounC1
/ˈsɛntəpiːs/An ornament or display placed in the middle of a dining table.
centrifugal
adjectivenounC1
/ˌsen.trɪˈfjuː.ɡəl/moving or directed outward from a center.
centrifugal box
nounRare/Technical
/ˌsen.trɪˈfjuː.ɡəl ˈbɒks/A machine or apparatus, often cylindrical, that uses centrifugal force to separate liquids from solids or to spin materials within a container.
centrifugal brake
nounC2
/ˌsen.trɪˈfjuː.ɡəl ˈbreɪk/A mechanical safety device that uses centrifugal force to slow or stop rotation, often found in fishing reels and machinery.
centrifugal casting
nounC2
/ˌsentrɪˈfjuːɡəl ˈkɑːstɪŋ/A manufacturing process where molten material is poured into a rotating mould; centrifugal force distributes the material evenly against the mould walls, creating cylindrical or symmetrical hollow parts.
centrifugal clutch
nounLow (C2)
/ˌsentrɪˈfjuːɡl klʌtʃ/A mechanical clutch that engages automatically as rotational speed increases, using centrifugal force to press weighted shoes or levers against a drum.
centrifugal force
nounlow
/ˌsen.trɪˈfjuː.ɡəl ˈfɔːs/The apparent force that acts outward on a body moving around a centre, arising from the body's inertia.
centrifugal pump
nounLow
/ˌsen.trɪˈfjuː.ɡəl ˈpʌmp/A pump that uses a rotating impeller to move liquid by creating centrifugal force.
centrifugalize
verb-transitiveVery Low / Technical
/ˌsɛntrɪˈfjuːɡəlaɪz/To subject something to centrifugal force, typically to separate its components by spinning at high speed.
centrifugate
nounLow
/ˈsentrɪfjuːɡeɪt/to separate substances of different densities using centrifugal force
centrifuge
nounverbverb-transitiveC1
/ˈsentrɪfjuːdʒ/A machine that separates substances of different densities by spinning them at high speed.
centring
nounC1
/ˈsɛntrɪŋ/The present participle and gerund of the verb 'centre' (UK)/'center' (US), meaning to place something in or at the middle.
centriole
nounC2
/ˈsɛntrɪəʊl/A small, cylindrical organelle in animal cells that plays a crucial role in organising microtubules for cell division (mitosis/meiosis).
centripetal force
nounC1
/ˌsen.trɪˌpiː.təl ˈfɔːs/The force that acts on a body moving in a circular path, directed towards the centre around which the body is moving.
centrism
nounC1/C2 (Low frequency, specialist term)
/ˈsɛntrɪzəm/A political or ideological position that avoids extremes and seeks moderate, middle-ground policies.
centrist
adjectivenounC1
/ˈsen.trɪst/A person who holds moderate political views, avoiding the extremes of left-wing or right-wing ideologies.
centroid
nounC2
/ˈsɛn.trɔɪd/The geometric centre point of a shape or object; the point where the shape would balance perfectly.
centrolinead
nounVery Low (Historical/Obsolete)
/ˌsɛntrə(ʊ)ˈlɪniæd/An obsolete mathematical and architectural instrument for drawing lines converging towards a central point or vanishing point in perspective drawing.
centromere
nounC2
/ˈsɛntrə(ʊ)mɪə/The region of a chromosome that links sister chromatids during cell division and attaches to spindle fibres.
centrosome
nounC1+
/ˈsɛntrə(ʊ)səʊm/An organelle in the cytoplasm of animal cells that organizes microtubules and is involved in cell division.

Showing 3281–3300 of 13732 words.