Meaning & use

info center

noun·Everydayinformal

Last updated

UK/ˈɪnfəʊ ˌsentə/
US/ˈɪnfoʊ ˌsentər/

Meanings

  1. nouncountableinformal

    A place or desk where people can get information, especially for visitors or tourists.

    Grammar: Countable; use 'an' before it because it begins with a vowel sound.

    Patterns

    • at the info center
    • visit an info center
    • the tourist info center

    We stopped at the info center to pick up a map of the city.

    The tourist info center is next to the main station and opens at nine.

    Staff at the info center can tell you which buses go to the airport.

  2. nouncountableinformalcomputing

    A computer help desk or online page that provides information about a product or service.

    Grammar: Often used in software or company names; may be written 'InfoCenter' as a brand.

    Patterns

    • call the info center
    • the online info center
    • contact the info center

    If the app crashes, check the info center on the company's website.

    The university's IT info center answers student questions by phone and email.

Word forms

pluralinfo centers

Common combinations

tourist info center
The tourist info center gave us a free walking map.
at the info center
Ask at the info center if you need a wheelchair.
call the info center
Call the info center to check opening times.
info center desk
A volunteer sat behind the info center desk all morning.

Synonyms and how they differ

information desk
More formal and common inside buildings such as airports; 'info center' is a little more casual.
visitor center
Usually a larger place with exhibits; an info center mainly answers questions.

Word family

info noun
Informal short form of 'information'.
information noun
Facts or details about something.
center noun
A place where a particular activity happens.

Commonly confused: info center or information center?

info center vs information center

The full, formal form; 'info center' is the shortened, informal version and is better avoided in formal writing.

Practice

Before we explore the old town, let's stop at the ______ to get a map.

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