metacenter

[ met-uh-sen-ter ]

nounNaval Architecture.
  1. the intersection between two vertical lines, one through the center of buoyancy of a hull in equilibrium, the other through the center of buoyancy when the hull is inclined slightly to one side or toward one end: the distance of this intersection above the center of gravity is an indication of the initial stability of the hull.

Origin of metacenter

1
From the French word métacentre, dating back to 1785–95. See meta-, center
  • Also especially British, met·a·cen·tre .

Words Nearby metacenter

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023