center of pressure

1

of an airfoil section : the point in the chord (prolonged if necessary) that is at the intersection of the chord and the line of action of the resultant air force

2

: the point of a surface exposed to external pressure (as of a fluid) at which a single force must be applied to equal or counterbalance the pressure forces acting on the whole surface

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!