ultracentrifuge

[ uhl-truh-sen-truh-fyooj ]

noun

1. a high-speed centrifuge for subjecting sols or solutions to forces many times that of gravity and producing concentration differences depending on the weight of the micelle or molecule.

verb (used with object)

, ul·tra·cen·tri·fuged, ul·tra·cen·tri·fug·ing.

1. to subject to the action of an ultracentrifuge.

ultracentrifuge

/ ˌʌltrəˈsɛntrɪˌfjuːdʒ; ˌʌltrəsɛnˈtrɪfjʊɡəl; -ˌsɛntrɪˈfjuːɡəl; ˌʌltrəˌsɛntrɪfjʊˈɡeɪʃən /

noun

1. a high-speed centrifuge used to separate colloidal solutions

verb

1. tr to subject to the action of an ultracentrifuge

ultracentrifuge

/ ŭl′trə-sĕn′trə-fyo̅o̅j′ /

1. A high-velocity centrifuge used in the separation of colloidal or submicroscopic particles.

Derived Forms

• ultracentrifugation, noun
• ˌultracenˈtrifugally, adverb
• ultracentrifugal, adjective

Other Words From

• ul·tra·cen·trif·u·gal [uhl-tr, uh, -sen-, trif, -y, uh, -g, uh, l, -, uh, -g, uh, l], adjective
• ultra·cen·trifu·gal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ultracentrifuge¹

First recorded in 1925–30; ultra- + centrifuge

Example Sentences

Then, they spun each sample in an ultracentrifuge, which left a small nugget of plastic at the bottom of a tube.

From Science Daily

Conventionally, scientists have attempted to extract EVs by spinning samples in an ultracentrifuge and then relying on differences in size and density between molecular components to obtain the vesicles of interest.

From Nature

They also needed an unusual piece of used lab equipment: an ultracentrifuge that costs $40,000 to $50,000 when new.

From Newsweek

The bigger versions look a bit like washing machines, but the spin cycle in these ultracentrifuges is a lot more powerful than that of any Maytag.

From Scientific American

The cooks in our research kitchen at the Cooking Lab in Bellevue, Wash., have used the ultracentrifuge to make sweet and rich carotene butters from carrots.

From Scientific American