cEnglishOxford New American Dictionaryc /sē, si / ▸ abbreviation 1 cent(s). 2 [in combination] (in units of measurement) centi-: centistokes (cS). 3 (c.) century or centuries: a watch case, 19th c. 4 (also c.) (preceding a date or amount) circa; approximately: Isabella was born c. 1759. 5 (of water) cold: all cabins have h & c. 6 colt. ▸ symbol Physics the speed of light in a vacuum: E = mc2.