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"Cíen" is a form of "ciar", an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to back up". "Cientos" is a form of "cientos", a plural noun which is often translated as "hundreds". Learn more about the difference between "cíen" and "cientos" below.
ciar(
syahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to back up
¿Por qué ciaste cuando me acerqué? ¿Acaso te asusté?Why did you back up when I approached you? Did I scare you?
2. (to give up)
a. to back down
Daniela estaba muy entusiasmada con el proyecto, pero al final ció.Daniela was very excited about the project, but at the end she backed down.
3. (nautical)
a. to back water
Los remeros tuvieron que ciar para evitar la ola.The rowers hand to back water in order to avoid the wave.
