Main Entry: ¹cen·trif·u·gal

Pronunciation: \sen-ˈtri-fyə-gəl, -ˈtri-fi-, especially British ˌsen-tri-ˈfyü-gəl\

Function: adjective

Etymology: New Latin centrifugus, from centr- + Latin fugere to flee — more at fugitive

Date: circa 1721

1 : proceeding or acting in a direction away from a center or axis
2 : using or acting by centrifugal force <a centrifugal pump>
3 : efferent
4 : tending away from centralization : separatist <centrifugal tendencies in modern society>

— cen·trif·u·gal·ly \-gə-lē\ adverb