centripetal Hear it!

centripetal definition

cen·trip·etal (sen trip′ət'l)

adjective

  1. moving or tending to move toward a center
  2. using or acted on by centripetal force
  3. Bot. developing inward toward the center, as certain flower clusters
  4. Physiol. conveying toward a center; afferent

Etymology: ModL centripetus (coined by Sir Isaac Newton < centri- + L petere, to fall, rush at: see feather + -al

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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