metacentre
 定傾中心


 Met·a·cen·ter or Met·a·cen·tre, n.  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.
 Note: ☞ When the metacenter is above the center of gravity, the position of the body is stable; when below it, unstable.

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 metacentre
      n : (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]