century

The definition of a century is a 100-year-long period of time.

(noun)

An example of a century is the years 1800-1900.

See century in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. centuries

any period of 100 years, as from 1620 to 1720
a period of 100 years reckoned from a certain time, esp. from the beginning of the Christian Era ( 1) [ 1 through 100 is the first century; 1801 through 1900 is the 19th century; 400 through 301 is the 4th century]: in common usage, a century begins with a year ending in 00 and runs through 99, as 1800-1899
in ancient Rome
1. a military unit, originally made up of 100 men
2. a subdivision of the people made for voting purposes
a series, group, or amount of a hundred

Origin: L centuria < centum, hundred

Related Forms:

See century in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. cen·tu·ries

Abbr. C. or c. or cent.
a. A period of 100 years.
b. Each of the successive periods of 100 years before or since the advent of the Christian era.
a. A unit of the Roman army originally consisting of 100 men.
b. One of the 193 electoral divisions of the Roman people.
A group of 100 things.

Origin:

Origin: Latin centuria, a group of a hundred

Origin: , from centum, hundred; see dekm̥ in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: