Search Result for "metacentre": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (1)

1. (shipbuilding) the point of intersection between two vertical lines, one line through the center of buoyancy of the hull of a ship in equilibrium and the other line through the center of buoyancy of the hull when the ship is inclined to one side; the distance of this intersection above the center of gravity is an indication of the stability of the ship;
[syn: metacenter, metacentre]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Metacenter \Met`a*cen"ter\or Metacentre \Met`a*cen"tre\, n. [Pref. meta- + center.] (Hydrostatics) The point of intersection of a vertical line through the center of gravity of the fluid displaced by a floating body which is tipped through a small angle from its position of equilibrium, and the inclined line which was vertical through the center of gravity of the body when in equilibrium. [1913 Webster] Note: When the metacenter is above the center of gravity, the position of the body is stable; when below it, unstable. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

metacentre n 1: (shipbuilding) the point of intersection between two vertical lines, one line through the center of buoyancy of the hull of a ship in equilibrium and the other line through the center of buoyancy of the hull when the ship is inclined to one side; the distance of this intersection above the center of gravity is an indication of the stability of the ship [syn: metacenter, metacentre]