Definition

The point where vertical lines through the center of buoyancy of a floating object meet, which helps determine the object's stability when it is tilted or floating at an angle.

Example

The metacenter is crucial for understanding how stable a ship will be in the water.

Conversation

I was reading about boat stability, and they mentioned the metacenter.

Oh really? What did it say about it?

It explained how the metacenter helps determine if a boat will tip over.

That makes sense! I guess knowing that is important for design.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Metacenter → It is formed from "meta-" (meaning beyond or change) and "center" (from Latin "centrum", meaning the middle point). The word "metacenter" refers to a point that is beyond the center, particularly in the context of stability in floating bodies.

Memory Tip

Think of 'meta-' meaning beyond and 'center' as the middle point — a metacenter is a point that is beyond the center of balance.

Visually Confused Words