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Glite Dictionary
🧬 No centromere 🎨 Not centered
acentric

acentric

9.5
Not in the middle and without a clear center
  • adjective
  • /ˌeɪˈsɛntrɪk/
translation icon : descentrado
  • The acentric design of the sculpture caught everyone's attention.

Examples

  • The design was deliberately acentric, drawing attention away from a central focus.

  • An acentric layout can often lead to unique spatial experiences.

  • Because the figure was acentric, it seemed to float irregularly on the page.

  • In genetics, an acentric chromosome fragment is one that lacks a centromere.

  • The design was deliberately acentric, drawing attention away from a central focus.

  • An acentric arrangement of furniture can create a more inviting space.

  • Because the figure was acentric, it seemed to float irregularly on the page.

Synonyms

off-center
vsacentric
  • US
8 4.1

Not exactly in the center, slightly to one side

can mean having no middle point at all, not only being off position
decentered
vsacentric
6.5

Not placed in the middle, making it off-center

lacks any middle point or may simply be not centered rather than shifted
off-centered
vsacentric
  • US
5.5

Placed away from the middle so it sits a little to one side

may describe absence of a middle point rather than only a shifted placement
uncentered
vsacentric
  • US
5.1

Placed away from the middle so it looks unbalanced

also covers cases where there is no middle point at all
centerless
vsacentric
  • Specialized
6.8

No central point holds the metal bar, allowing the machine to grind it quickly

is more general and can apply outside technical or mechanical usage
nonconcentric
vsacentric
9.3

Having centers that are not in the same place

is broader, covering any lack of a middle point, not just mismatch between objects

Antonyms

centered
  • US
2.8

Placed in the middle with the same space on every side

Compounds

acentric chromosome
  • Specialized
9.5

A chromosome with no centromere that cannot attach to the spindle during cell division

How Centered

centered
  • US
2.8
acentric
9.5
off-center
  • US
8 4.1

Surface Forms

acentric positive

Morphology

acentric = centric (semi-transparent) = a + centr + ic

The meaning follows the pattern 'not or without' + 'centric', but the learned prefix 'a-' is less familiar and less productive for many learners than everyday prefixes like 'un-'.

Etymology

Acentric comes from the prefix a- meaning 'not' and centric from center, so it simply means 'not in the middle'. That helps to remember why an acentric shape or design looks off or seems to float without a clear center.