ADJ

dead, very
We've bought a flat in the very centre of Cambridge
city, town
soft
chocolates with soft centres

PREP

at the ~ (of)
at the centre of the universe
in the ~ (of)
a museum in the centre of Birmingham

PHRASES

the centre of the city, the centre of (the) town

ADJ

important, leading, main, major, nerve (figurative)
the economic nerve centre of Germany
international, local, national, regional, world
commercial, cultural, economic, financial, industrial, trading, urban
London is one of the main financial centres of the world

PREP

~ for
The university is a major centre for scientific research

PHRASES

a centre of excellence (= a place where a particular kind of work is done well), a centre of government/population/power 3 the centre moderate
political position
left/right of centre
Politically, she is slightly left of centre

CENTRE + NOUN

party
ground
a party that occupies the centre ground of British politics