What does concentre mean?
"Concentre" is a comparatively rare English word meaning to come together, or to bring things together, at a common centre — in effect, to converge. It can be used of physical objects, such as crowds or forces drawing toward one point, or of abstract things like attention, effort, and power being focused on a single aim. Derived through French "concentrer" from Latin "centrum", meaning centre, it belongs to the same family as "central", "concentrate", and "eccentric". Although "concentre" has been part of English since around the seventeenth century, it has never achieved the everyday currency of "concentrate" and today survives mainly in literary, formal, or historical writing. In heraldry, "concentre" also serves as a noun naming the precise point where radiating lines meet, a specialised use that gives the word a distinctive technical life. Writers who choose it typically do so for elegance or precision, trading familiarity for a slightly archaic refinement.
To come or bring together at a common centre; to converge or focus.
"The debate gradually concentred on the question of funding."
Rare in modern usage; "concentrate" or "focus" is normally preferred.
In heraldry, the point at which radiating lines meet.
"The charges were arranged so that their lines met at the concentre."
A technical heraldic term rarely used outside that field.
Applies only to the heraldic noun; the verb has no plural form.
"The design placed several concentres at points where the ordinaries crossed."
While "concentrate" does the everyday work, its older sibling "concentre" survives in the pages of literature — and on the coats of arms of heraldry, where lines literally meet at a point.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of concentre
"Concentre" entered English in the early seventeenth century, borrowed from French "concentrer", which was itself formed from Latin "con-" (together) and "centrum" (centre), a Greek loanword adopted into Latin. The word thus shares its root with "central", "concentrate", "eccentric", and "centrifugal", all descendants of "centrum". Its use as a heraldic term developed alongside the verb sense.
How concentre is actually used
"Concentre" is rare and literary in modern English, appearing mostly in formal or historical prose; "concentrate" or "focus" is preferred in ordinary usage. In British spelling contexts the related form "concentre" may appear alongside "concentre" as a variant of "concenter". As a heraldic noun it is technical and seldom encountered outside that field.
Easily confused with concentre
"Concentrate" is the far more common word meaning to focus or intensify (or a concentrated substance), while "concentre" is a rare, largely literary synonym for converging on a centre.