Nikon: Focus & Meter Interlocution

Spot metering is locked to the AF point (it will try and put whatever is under the AF point at middle grey without regard for the rest of the scene)

Centre weighted is completely uncoupled from the AF point, will meter from the centre of the viewfinder (you can set how big an area it assesses, or you can have it average out the entire scene)

Matrix is biased towards the AF point but takes the rest into account.