centripetal meaning

UK US

centripetal (adjective): tending to move toward a center.

centripetal has 3 meanings in this dictionary.

centripetal as an adjective

  1. tending to move toward a center
    • centripetal force

    Opposite: centrifugal

    Similar: inward-developing, inward-moving

  2. tending to unify

    Synonyms: unifying

    Similar: centralizing

  3. of a nerve fiber or impulse originating outside and passing toward the central nervous system
    • sensory neurons

    Synonyms: receptive, sensory

    Similar: afferent

Scrabble score: 15 (letter breakdown)

Word lists: words starting with CE · words ending in AL · 11-letter words

More about centripetal on Wikipedia.