centripetal

adjective cen·trip·e·tal \sen-ˈtri-pə-t^əl\

: moving toward a center : acting in a direction toward a center

Full Definition of CENTRIPETAL

: proceeding or acting in a direction toward a center or axis

: tending toward centralization : unifying

— cen·trip·e·tal·ly \-tə-lē\ adverb

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New Latin centripetus, from centr- + Latin petere to go to, seek — more at feather

First Known Use: 1709

Medical Dictionary

adjective cen·trip·e·tal \sen-ˈtrip-ət-^əl\

: passing inward (as from a sense organ to the brain or spinal cord) : afferent

—cen·trip·e·tal·ly \-^əl-ē\ adverb

Next Word in the Dictionary: centripetal forcePrevious Word in the Dictionary: centrioleAll Words Near: centripetal

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