hub

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A place or organization that is the center of an activity or a network.

   Grammar: Often followed by of or for: a hub of activity.

   Patterns

   • a hub for something
   • the hub of something

   The city is a hub for trade.

   The library is the hub of the community.

   Chicago is a major hub for flights.

2. 2nouncountabletechnical

   The central part of a wheel, where the axle fits.

   Grammar: A technical sense about wheels.

   Patterns

   • the hub of a wheel

   The spokes meet at the hub.

   He cleaned the hub of the bicycle wheel.

   Grease the hub before you fit the wheel.

3. 3nouncountablecomputing

   A device that connects several computers or cables in a network.

   Grammar: A computing term; modern networks often use a switch.

   Patterns

   • a USB hub

   I plugged the printer into the USB hub.

   The office network runs through a hub.

   The hub has four ports.

Word forms

Common combinations

transport hub

The station is a major transport hub.

hub of activity

The kitchen is the hub of activity at home.

business hub

Singapore is a business hub.

hub airport

Dubai is a hub airport.

USB hub

I bought a USB hub for my laptop.

hub and spoke

The airline uses a hub and spoke system.

Synonyms and how they differ

center

Center is the general word for the middle, while hub suggests lines or activity radiating outward.

core

Core means the most important inner part, not a place where things connect.

focal point

Focal point is where attention is directed, not where traffic connects.

nucleus

Nucleus is a formal word for the central part from which something grows.

Opposites

Word family

hubcap noun

a cover for the center of a car wheel

hubbub noun

a noisy confusion

hub-and-spoke adjective

describing a system with a center and branches

Commonly confused: hub or hubbub?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “hub”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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