Definition

Noun: 1. A period of 100 years: A unit of time equal to one hundred consecutive years. The counting of centuries often begins with year 1 (e.g., the 1st century was from year 1 to year 100). 2. A group or set of one hundred things: (Less common) Can refer to any group of one hundred items or units. 3. (Cricket) A score of one hundred runs: In the sport of cricket, a batsman's individual score of 100 runs. 4. (Historical, Roman) A military unit: In ancient Rome, a century was a military unit originally consisting of 100 men.

Usage

The word "century" is primarily used as a noun. It is most commonly used to denote a 100-year period in history, often numbered ordinally (e.g., 20th century). It is a countable noun.

Examples

1. As a period of 100 years:

   • The 19th century saw the Industrial Revolution.
   • We are now living in the 21st century.
   • The building is over a century old.

2. As a group of one hundred:

   • He scored a century of points in the game. (This usage is rare and often context-specific).

3. In Cricket:

   • The batsman celebrated after hitting a magnificent century.

Advanced Usage

• "Turn of the century": Refers to the time when one century ends and another begins.
  • Art Nouveau was popular at the turn of the 20th century.
• "Half-century": A period of 50 years. In cricket, a score of 50 runs.
  • The company celebrated its half-century in business.
• "For centuries": For a very long time, implying many hundreds of years.
  • This tradition has been practiced for centuries.

Variants and Related Words

• Centennial (adj/noun): Relating to a 100th anniversary; a 100th anniversary.
  • The town held a centennial celebration.
• Centurion (noun): The commander of a century in the ancient Roman army.
  • The centurion led his troops into battle.

Synonyms

• Hundred years: The most direct synonym for the primary meaning.
• Centenary: (Chiefly British) A hundredth anniversary.
• Ton: (Informal, Cricket) A century (100 runs).

Related Phrases

• The century mark: Reaching the number one hundred.
  • The runner crossed the finish line at the century mark of 100 miles.
• A century ago: One hundred years in the past.
  • A century ago, travel was very different.

Idioms

• Not in a hundred years / Never in a century: Used to emphasize that something will absolutely never happen.
  • I would never do that, not in a hundred years!

Noun

1. ten 10s
2. a period of 100 years