hub

B2 Topic:Technology & Computing

US /hʌb/ UK /hʌb/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like hob /ʌ/ vs /ɑ/

Freq #13542

Meanings

1

noun
the central part of a wheel through which the axle passes

The mechanic removed the wheel to inspect its hub.
2

noun
a central place through which people, goods, information, or activity are connected or distributed

The port became a major hub for trade across the region.
3

noun
a device that connects several computers or other pieces of equipment

Each workstation was connected to the network hub.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the central part of a wheel... wheel centernave

2 noun · a central place through... center nodefocal point

3 noun · a device that connects... network hub

Opposites

periphery

Word family

Derived forms hub-and-spokehubless

Related forms axis axle center

Common collocations

economic hub Adjective + noun

Etymology

Originally a dialect word of uncertain origin, perhaps related to hob in the sense of a rounded projection. Its wheel-center sense is recorded from the seventeenth century; the modern sense 'center of activity or connections' is a metaphorical extension.

Topics

Technology & Computing

External links

# hub

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /hʌb/
**IPA (UK):** /hʌb/
**Frequency rank:** 13542

## Meanings
1. the central part of a wheel through which the axle passes
2. a central place through which people, goods, information, or activity are connected or distributed
3. a device that connects several computers or other pieces of equipment

## Examples
- The mechanic removed the wheel to inspect its hub.
- The port became a major hub for trade across the region.
- Each workstation was connected to the network hub.

## Synonyms
- center
- node
- focal point

## Antonyms
- periphery

## Derived Forms
- hub-and-spoke
- hubless

## Related Forms
- axis
- axle
- center

## Etymology
Originally a dialect word of uncertain origin, perhaps related to hob in the sense of a rounded projection. Its wheel-center sense is recorded from the seventeenth century; the modern sense 'center of activity or connections' is a metaphorical extension.

## Topics
- Technology & Computing

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