Census TractA census tract is a small geographic area. Census 2000 assigned census tract numbers to all areas of the U.S. and some U.S. territories and possessions.
CenterGenerally speaking, the vertical axis of a tropical cyclone, usually defined by the location of minimum wind or minimum pressure.
Center / Vortex FixThe location of the center of a tropical or subtropical cyclone obtained by reconnaissance aircraft penetration, satellite, radar, or synoptic data.
center frequencyIn frequency modulation, the rest frequency, i.e., the frequency of the unmodulated carrier. Synonym carrier frequency. 2.
Center pivot irrigationA form of sprinkler irrigation consisting of several segments of pipe (usually galvanized steel or aluminum) that are joined together and supported by…
Center PotThe first pot created during a poker hand, as opposed to one or more "side" pots created if one or more players goes all-in. Also "main pot."
Centers of originUsually the location in the world where the oldest cultivation of a particular crop has been identified.
centimeter(SEN-tih-MEE-ter) A measure of length in the metric system. There are 100 centimeters in a meter and 2ý centimeters in an inch.
Centimeter BurstA solar radio burst in the centimeter wavelength range.
centiMorgan(Abbreviation: cM). Unit of map distance. For small recombination fractions, cM and % recombination frequency are equivalent.
Centimorgan (cM)A unit of measure of recombination frequency. One centimorgan is equal to a 1% chance that a marker at one genetic locus will be separated from a marker…
Central Arizona Project (CAP) AqueductA 336-mi (541-km) long diversion canal operated by the Central Arizona Water Conservation District that diverts water from the Colorado River into central…
Central bankMost countries have a central bank, which issues the country's currency and holds the reserve deposits of other banks in that country.
Central Business District (CBD)The downtown retail trade and commercial area of a city or town, or an area of very high land valuation, traffic flow, and concentration of retail…
Central Counting StationA centralized location at which ballots cast during the election are tabulated and election reports generated based on those tabulations.
central directory architectureDirectory architecture in a Domino domain in which some servers store Configuration Directories and use primary Domino Directories on remote servers for…
Central dogmaFrancis Crick's seminal concept that in nature genetic information generally flows from DNA to RNA to protein.
central filesfiles of one or more organizational units stored in one physical location to improve their management and control Also referred to as central registry.
Central flywayAn important international migration route for many birds.
Central Heating SystemA system where heat is supplied to areas of a building from a single appliance through a network of ducts or pipes.
Central LineA central line is a flexible tube that is inserted near a patient's heart or into one of the large blood vessels near the heart.
Central line catheterA long flexible tube that is inserted into a large blood vessel near the heart.
Central Meridian Passage (CMP)In solar-terrestrial terms, the passage of an Active Region or other feature across the longitude meridian that passes through the apparent center of the…
central mother cellA subsurface cell located in a plant apical meristem and characterized by a large vacuole.
Central Nervous System(SEN-trul NER-vus SIS-tem) The brain and spinal cord. Also called CNS.
central nervous system metastasis(SEN-trul NER-vus SIS-tem meh-TAS-tuh-sis) Cancer that has spread from the original (primary) tumor to the central nervous system (CNS).
central nervous system prophylaxis(SEN-trul NER-vus SIS-tem pro-fih-LAK-sis) Chemotherapy or radiation therapy given to the central nervous system (CNS) as a preventive treatment.
central nervous system sanctuary therapy(SEN-trul NER-vus SIS-tem SANK-choo-WAYR-ee THAYR-uh-pee) Chemotherapy or radiation therapy given to the central nervous system (CNS) as a preventive…
central nervous system tumor(SEN-trul NER-vus SIS-tem TOO-mer) A tumor of the central nervous system, including brain stem glioma, craniopharyngioma, medulloblastoma, and meningioma.
Central North Pacific BasinThe region north of the Equator between 140W and the International Dateline. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) in Honolulu, Hawaii is…
central office (C.O.)A common carrier switching center in which trunks and/or loops are terminated and switched.
Central Office (CO) CodeThe sub-NPA code in a TN, i.e., digits D-E-F of a 10-digit NANP Area address. Central office codes are in the form "NXX," where N is a number from 2 to 9…
central office connecting facilityLoosely, in the sense of a trunk between public and private switches, a synonym for central office trunk. See trunk.
central office prefixThe first three digits (N) of the seven-digit telephone number assigned to a customer's telephone exchange service when dialed on a local basis.
central office trunkLoosely, in the sense of a trunk between public and private switches, a synonym for central office connecting facility. See trunk.
Central Power PlantA large power plant that generates power for distribution to multiple customers.
Central Processing UnitThe Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the heart of a computer as it is the part that contains the computer's ability to obey instructions.
central venous access catheter(SEN-trul VEE-nus AK-ses KA-theh-ter) A tube surgically placed into a blood vessel for the purpose of giving intravenous fluid and drugs.
centralized attendant services (CAS)A function of a usually centrally located attendant console that permits the control of multiple switches, some of which may be geographically remote.
centralized automatic message accounting (CAMA)An automatic message accounting system that serves more than one switch from a central location. Note: When using CAMA, human intervention may be required.
Centralized CommandOperational concept which specifies that critical C2 is collected and key C2 decisions are performed at a central location by USCINCSPACE, or his…
Centralized ControlThe control mode whereby a higher echelon makes direct target assignments to fire units. (USSPACECOM)
Centralized ExchangeA market where market participants execute all transactions with the central entity operating under a set of rules (product specifications, execution…
Centralized ManagementThe concept of using a single, designated management authority. It includes system management, program/project management, and product management.
centralized operationOperation of a communication network in which transmission may occur between the control station and any tributary station, but not between tributary…
centralized ordering group (COG)An organization provided by some communications service providers to coordinate services between the companies and vendors.
Centralized sewage treatmentThe collection and treatment of sewage from many sources to remove pollutants and pathogens.
centre of originThe geographic locations where a particular domesticated plant species originated.
Centrex® (CTX) serviceA service offered by Bell Operating Companies that provides functions and features comparable to those provided by a PBX or a PABX. Note: "Centrex® C.O.
centrifugal forceA force directed outward, away from the center of a rotating object; equal in magnitude to the centripetal force but in the opposite direction.
Centrifugal pumpA pump that moves water by centrifugal force developed by rapid rotation of an impeller.
CentrifugationSeparating molecules by size or density using centrifugal forces generated by a spinning rotor.
centrifugeA mechanical device which delivers the centrifugal forces necessary for centrifugation.
centrioleAn organelle in many animal cells that appears to be involved in the formation of the spindle during mitosis.
centripetal forceAn inward-directed force that confines an object to a circular path and is equal in magnitude to the centrifugal force but in the opposite direction.
ceramideA type of fat produced in the body. It may cause some types of cells to die and is being studied in cancer treatment.
CERCLASee Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
cerebellar hemangioblastoma(ser-eh-BEH-ler hee-MAN-jee-OH-blas-TOH-muh) A benign, slow-growing tumor in the cerebellum (part of the brain at the back of the head), made up of…
cerebellopontine(SER-uh-BEL-o-PON-teen) Having to do with two structures of the brain, the cerebellum (located at the lower back of the brain) and the pons (located at…
cerebellum(ser-uh-BEL-um) The portion of the brain in the back of the head between the cerebrum and the brain stem.
Cerebral edemathe presence of a large amount of water in the spaces of the brain.
cerebral hemisphere(seh-REE-bral HEM-is-feer) One half of the cerebrum, the part of the brain that controls muscle functions and also controls speech, thought, emotions…
Cerebral malariaA severemalaria syndrome in which infected red blood cells obstruct blood circulation in the small blood vessels in the brain and/or release cytokines…
Cerebrospinal fluid(seh-REE-broh-SPY-nul...) The fluid that flows in and around the hollow spaces of the brain and spinal cord, and between two of the meninges (the thin…
Cerebrovascular DiseaseRelating to the blood supply to the brain, particularly with reference to pathologic changes such as stroke and other cognitive deficits.
cerebrum(seh-REE-brum) The largest part of the brain. It is divided into two hemispheres, or halves, called the cerebral hemispheres.
CERESCenter for Research Support, NTF, Falcon AFB, CO.