I. (ˈ)sen.|trifyəgəl, -fə̇]g-, -fē]g-, ]k-, Brit also |sentrə̇.|fyüg-\ adjective
Etymology: New Latin centrifug us (from centri- + -fugus, from Latin fugere to flee) + English -al — more at fugitive
1. : moving, proceeding, or acting in a direction away from a center or axis — opposed to centripetal
centrifugal acceleration of a body
2.
a. : using or acting by centrifugal force
a centrifugal compressor
b. : separated or freed from (as liquid) by centrifugal force
centrifugal flotation of solids from liquids
3.
a. : developing and expanding successively outward and downward from the center or summit — used of the flowers of an inflorescence
b. : having the radicle turned toward the sides of the fruit
4. : passing outward (as from a nerve center to a muscle or gland) : efferent
5. : tending away from centralization : separatist
must soon discover that a system centrifugal in tendency and decentralizing in spirit, unless closely restrained, was certain to lead them far from the Canaan of their hopes — V.L.Parrington
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : centrifugal machine
b. : a drum in such a machine
2. : centrifugal sugar — often used in plural