centre. Point around which a circle is described, or the middle point of a sphere. A centrally planned building is one arranged around a central point, as opposed to an axial plan: a drum or octagonal structure is centrally planned, while a basilica is axially planned.

centre, U.S. center sb. XIV. — (O)F. centre or its source L. centrum — Gr. kéntron goad, peg, stationary point of a pair of compasses, f. base of kenteîn prick. From XVI to XVIII the prevalent sp. was center; centre appeared in Bailey's dict. 1727 and was adopted by Johnson.
Hence centre vb. XVII. So central XVI, -ize XIX.

centre (in neurology) A part of the nervous system, consisting of a group of nerve cells, that coordinates a particular process. An example is the respiratory centre in the vertebrate brainstem, which controls breathing movements. The stimulation of a centre will initiate the process, while destruction of the centre will prevent or impair it.