concentric
/kənˈsɛn.trɪk/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Having the same center. Concentric circles, rings, or layers share one central point. It is often used in math, design, and science.
- The target has concentric circles.
- They drew concentric rings on the page.
- The lake formed concentric bands of ice.
Adinary Nuance
Concentric is more exact than words like circular or round. Use concentric when two or more shapes share the same center point. Circular only means “circle-shaped,” and round is even broader. In IELTS and academic writing, concentric sounds precise and technical.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- đồng tâm
- Spanish
- concéntrico
- Chinese
- 同心的
- Japanese
- 同心の
- Korean
- 동심의
Etymology
Concentric comes from Latin concentricus, from com- meaning “together” and centrum meaning “center.” It entered English in the 17th century, first in scientific writing.
Common phrases
concentric circlesconcentric ringsconcentric layersconcentric design
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is concentric the same as circular?
- No. Concentric means shapes share one center. Circular only means shaped like a circle.
- Is concentric used in everyday English?
- Not very often. It is more common in technical, academic, and descriptive writing.
- Can I use concentric for people or groups?
- Usually no. It is mainly used for shapes, layers, or systems with a shared center.