| cellular phone |
a telephone that can be taken anywhere and does not use wires. A cellular phone uses radio signals that are sent out from many different points called "cells." A cellular phone gets its signals from whatever cell is closest to it at the moment. A cellular phone is often called a "cell phone." |
| celluloid |
a plastic that burns easily. Celluloid is used for motion picture film. |
| cellulose |
the main element of plant tissue, used in making paper, cellophane, and fabrics. |
| Celsius |
relating to a temperature scale on which water freezes at zero degrees and boils at one hundred degrees; centigrade. (abbreviated: C) |
| cement |
a powder made of clay and limestone that becomes hard when water is added. Cement is used as a building material. [3 definitions] |
| cemetery |
a place where the dead are buried; graveyard. |
| censor |
an official who decides what art, movies, or books may be published. A censor works for a government, religion, or other organization, and promotes its ideas. [3 definitions] |
| census |
an official count of the people who live in a country or other area. A census is also used to collect information about these people, such as their job, age, or sex. |
| cent |
a unit of money used in many countries, including the United States and Canada. A cent is equal to a hundredth part of the standard national currency. |
| centaur |
a creature in Greek mythology that has the head, arms, and chest of a man and the trunk and legs of a horse. |
| centennial |
having to do with a one hundredth anniversary. [2 definitions] |
| center |
the point that is the same distance from all points on the outside line or surface of something; exact middle. [7 definitions] |
| center field |
in baseball, the center area of the outfield, which extends behind second base. |
| center fielder |
in baseball, the player whose position is in center field when the other team is batting and whose primary function is to defend that territory. |
| centi- |
a prefix that means "one hundredth." [2 definitions] |
| centigrade |
see "Celsius." |
| centimeter |
a unit of length equal to one hundredth of a meter or 0.3937 inch. (abbreviated: cm) |
| centipede |
a small animal with a narrow body like a worm. A centipede's body is divided into many segments, each having a pair of legs. The front legs have poison claws. Centipedes are a kind of arthropod and are active at night. |
| central |
in the center or being the center. [2 definitions] |
| Central Africa |
a large region of Africa in the central part of that continent. Central Africa is generally considered to include the countries of Chad, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Other nearby nations, such as Angola, Sao Tome and Principe, Rwanda, and Burundi, are often included as part of Central Africa as well. |
| Central African Republic |
a country in central Africa. Bangui is the capital of the Central African Republic. |