form drag

American  

noun

Physics.

1. 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.

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form drag British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of form drag

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

As he himself would have been the first to say, everything began with Little Richard — not just rock ’n’ roll but gender bending as showmanship, self-mythology as an art form, drag in the middle of Main Street.

From New York Times

There are many forms of drag, but one of the more important kinds in the flight of a ball is known as pressure drag, or form drag.

From Washington Post

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