What is "centripetal"

Centripetal \Cen*trip"e*tal\, a. [L. centrum center + petere to move toward.]

1. Tending, or causing, to approach the center.

2. (Bot.)

   1. Expanding first at the base of the inflorescence, and proceeding in order towards the summit.

   2. Having the radicle turned toward the axis of the fruit, as some embryos.

3. Progressing by changes from the exterior of a thing toward its center; as, the centripetal calcification of a bone.
   --R. Owen.

   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.

1709, from Modern Latin, coined 1687 by Sir Isaac Newton (who wrote in Latin), from Latin centri- alternative comb. form of centrum "center" (see center (n.)) + petere "to make for, go to; seek, strive after" (see petition (n.)). Centripetal force is Newton's vim ... centripetam.

a. 1 directed or moving towards a centre 2 of, relating to, or operated by centripetal force 3 (context neuroanatomy of a nerve impulse English) directed towards the central nervous system; afferent

1. adj. tending to move toward a center; "centripetal force" [ant: centrifugal]

2. tending to unify [syn: unifying(a)]

3. of a nerve fiber or impulse originating outside and passing toward the central nervous system; "sensory neurons" [syn: receptive, sensory(a)]

Centripetal usually refers to centripetal force, a force that keeps a body on a curved path.

It may also refer to:

• Centripetal acceleration
• Centripetal Catmull–Rom spline (computer graphics)
• Centripetal harmony
• Centripetal obesity
• Centripetal Spring Armchair
• Centripetal structure (theoretical linguistics) – see Lucien Tesnière