form drag

American

noun

Physics.

the portion of the resisting force encountered by a body moving through a fluid that is due to the irregularity of shape of the body, reducible to a minimum by streamlining.

form drag British

noun

the drag on a body moving through a fluid as a result of the shape of the body. It can be reduced by streamlining

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of form drag

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In addition to the fabric, Speedo developed a support system called a core stabilizer, designed to combat what's known as form drag.

From Time Magazine Archive

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023