# centrifuge

/ˈsɛntɹəfˌjudʒ/ (US) · /sˈɛntɹɪfjˌuːdʒ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/centrifuge
Updated: 2026-05-25

## Definition

a machine that spins very fast to separate things that are mixed together. It uses the force of spinning to pull heavier parts to the bottom.

For teachers: a device that uses rapid spinning to separate substances of different densities. The force generated by the rotation causes heavier particles to move outward, away from the axis of rotation.

## Examples

- The lab technician used a centrifuge to separate the blood cells.
- In a medical lab, a centrifuge is essential for isolating plasma from whole blood samples before testing.
- The industrial centrifuge operates at thousands of revolutions per minute, effectively separating the liquid from the solid particles in the slurry through sheer mechanical force.

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