Tending, or causing, to approach the center. [1913 Webster]
Expanding first at the base of the inflorescence, and proceeding in order towards the summit. [1913 Webster]
Progressing by changes from the exterior of a thing toward its center; as, the centripetal calcification of a bone. R. Owen. [1913 Webster]

Centripetal force (Mech.), a force whose direction is towards a center, as in case of a planet revolving round the sun, the center of the system, See Centrifugal force, under Centrifugal. -- Centripetal impression (Physiol.), an impression (sensory) transmitted by an afferent nerve from the exterior of the body inwards, to the central organ.

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

centripetal, adj. moving or tending to move towards a centre (cf. CENTRIFUGAL).

Idiom

centripetal force the force acting on a body causing it to move about a centre.

Derivative

centripetally adv.

Etymology

mod.L centripetus f. L centrum centre + petere seek

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THESAURUS

centripetal

approaching, asymptotic, centrolineal, concentrating, concurrent, confluent, confocal, connivent, consolidating, converging, focal, meeting, mutually approaching, radial, radiating, tangent, tangential, unifying, uniting

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ROGET THESAURUS

centripetal

Repulsion

N repulsion, driving from, repulse, abduction, magnetic repulsion, magnetic levitation, antigravity, repelling, repellent, repulsive, abducent, abductive, centripetal, like charges repel, opposite charges attract, like poles repel, opposite poles attract.

Convergence

N convergence, confluence, concourse, conflux, congress, concurrence, concentration, convergency, appulse, meeting, corradiation, assemblage, resort, asymptote, converging, convergent, confluent, concurrent, centripetal, asymptotical, asymptotic, confluxible.

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