noun
- a flat board or fin that can be lowered through the bottom of a sailing boat to reduce sideways drift and improve steering
Usage: nautical; also spelled centerboard (U.S.); used primarily in small sailboats and dinghies
Examples
- The sailor lowered the centreboard to help the boat sail closer to the wind.
- Without a centreboard, the small dinghy would drift sideways in the breeze.
- The racing yacht's centreboard was made of lightweight composite material.
- She checked that the centreboard moved freely before launching the boat.
- The centreboard can be retracted when sailing in shallow water.