centripetal
centripetal
Definition
cen·trip·etal (sen trip′ət'l)
adjective
- moving or tending to move toward a center
- using or acted on by centripetal force
- Bot. developing inward toward the center, as certain flower clusters
- Physiol. conveying toward a center; afferent
Etymology: ModL centripetus (coined by Sir Isaac Newton < centri- + L petere, to fall, rush at: see feather + -al
centripetal
Usage Examples
Modifies a noun
- acceleration: If a c is centripetal acceleration, then it equals delta-V / delta-t.
- force: To move to a larger radius, first turn off the centripetal force, then apply the impulse once the new radius is reached.
- attraction: The RCP resisted Labor's centripetal attraction longer than other parties which had flourished in the war.
- movement: The centrifugal and centripetal movements of going out and bringing in are appropriately studied together.
Browse dictionary entries near centripetal
- centriole
- centring
- centrifuging
- centrifuged
- centrifuge
- centrifugation
- centrifugally
- centrifugalizing
- centrifugalized
- centrifugalize
- centripetal force
- centripetally
- centrism
- -centrism
- centrist
- -centrist
- centro-
- centrobaric
- centroid
- centromere
