centrifugal
An object that spins around fast, like water being flung out of a washing machine, is centrifugal.
When something moves really quickly in a circle, it tends to fly off in all directions. This can happen with fluids or objects in machines. For example, have you ever seen a salad spinner? It's a container that you put your dirty lettuce in and then spin it around fast until the water flies out. That's centrifugal action at work! In science, researchers often use centrifuges to separate different liquids based on their weight. They spin the liquid really fast and then, because of the centrifugal force, the heavier parts get flung to the side while the lighter ones stay in the middle.
How common is "centrifugal"?
Word centrifugal is considered rare in modern English.
It appears most frequently in academic texts and less often in other writings.
It appears most frequently in academic texts and less often in other writings.
Definitions
adjective
Tending, or causing, to recede from the center.
centripetal
Real examples of "centrifugal" in context
