cent

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *déḱm̥t Proto-Indo-European *ḱm̥tóm Proto-Italic *kəntom Latin centum Old French centbor. Middle English cent English cent From Middle English cent, from Old French cent, from Latin centum, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱm̥tóm.

1. A subunit of currency equal to one-hundredth of the main unit of currency in many countries. Symbol: ¢.

   “It's true. 1.7 cents to make 1 cent. That really makes the phrase “you have to spend money to make money” ring painfully true.”

2. A small sum of money.

   “He blew every last cent.”

   “Every cent aside from his own expenses for the barest kind of living went to his down-and-out buddies.”

3. A subunit of currency equal to one-hundredth of the euro.
4. A coin having face value of one cent (in either of the above senses).
5. A hundredth of a semitone or half step.
6. A unit of reactivity equal to one hundredth of a dollar.
7. Abbreviation of century.
8. Abbreviation of Latincentum (“one hundred”).

   “And broght with hem many stout cent / Of green lordynges.”

   “The demon makes his full descent / In one abundant shower of cent per cent.”

9. Abbreviation of centigrade.
10. Abbreviation of center.