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centripetal

Pronunciation: /ˌsɛntrɪˈpiːt(ə)l, sɛnˈtrɪpɪt(ə)l/

Definition of centripetal

adjective

Physics
  • moving or tending to move towards a centre. The opposite of centrifugal.

Derivatives

centripetally

adverb

Origin:

early 18th century: from modern Latin centripetus, from Latin centrum (see centre) + -petus 'seeking' (from petere 'seek')

centripetal in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of centripetal in the US English dictionary

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