centrifuge

American  

[sen-truh-fyooj] / ˈsɛn trəˌfyudʒ /

noun

1. an apparatus that rotates at high speed and by centrifugal force separates substances of different densities, as milk and cream.

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verb (used with object)

centrifuged, centrifuging

1. Also to subject to the action of a centrifuge.

centrifuge British  

/ ˈsɛntrɪˌfjuːdʒ, ˌsɛntrɪfjʊˈɡeɪʃən /

noun

1. any of various rotating machines that separate liquids from solids or dispersions of one liquid in another, by the action of centrifugal force

2. any of various rotating devices for subjecting human beings or animals to varying accelerations for experimental purposes

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verb

1. (tr) to subject to the action of a centrifuge

centrifuge Scientific  

/ sĕn′trə-fyo̅o̅j′ /

1. A machine that separates substances of different densities in a sample by rotating the sample at very high speed, causing the substance to be displaced outward, sometimes through a series of filters or gratings. Denser substances tend to be displaced from the center more than ones that are less dense.

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Other Word Forms

• centrifugation noun
• recentrifuge verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of centrifuge

1795–1805; < French, noun use of centrifuge (adj.) < New Latin centrifugus center-fleeing; centrifugal

Example Sentences

But tunneling appears to be increasing at Pickaxe Mountain near Natanz, which Iran in 2020 declared a site for building centrifuges, central to uranium enrichment.

From The Wall Street Journal

To find out, the men were belted into a centrifuge, a tiny capsule at the end of a long spinning arm.

From Literature

Stephen was then extubated and woken up, and then he rested for an hour before his blood was drained and spun through a centrifuge for six hours to separate out the stem cells.

From Los Angeles Times

Top officials have told me for certain that they completely destroyed thousands of Iranian nuclear centrifuges.

From Salon

Experts believe Iran still has centrifuges it manufactured before the war but had never installed, as well as a stockpile of uranium enriched to 20% and 60%, sufficient for 10 warheads.

From Los Angeles Times