Definition
The point on the chord line of an airfoil where the resultant of all aerodynamic forces produced by that airfoil is considered to act. As angle of attack changes, the center of pressure moves along the chord line, shifting forward as angle of attack increases and aft as it decreases.
Plain English
It is the single point on a wing where you can think of all the lift as being concentrated. This point is not fixed -- it slides forward and back along the wing as the pilot changes the angle the wing meets the air.
Context Anchor
Seen in basic aerodynamics, wing lift, stability, and aircraft design discussions.
Derivation
The phrase combines 'center' (the middle or balance point) with 'pressure' (the aerodynamic force pushing on the wing). It names the balance point of all the air pressure acting on the airfoil -- the spot where the total force effectively pushes.
Why Pilots Care
As angle of attack changes, the center of pressure moves and creates pitching moments that affect how the aircraft handles in pitch.
Analogy
If many people push on different parts of a large table, you could replace all those pushes with one equal push at one chosen spot. The center of pressure is that kind of single spot for air pushing on a wing.
Intuition Check
Do not read “center” as the geometric middle of the wing. The center of pressure is the effective point where the air’s total force acts, and it can move.
Example Sentence 1
As the pilot increased the angle of attack during slow flight, the center of pressure moved forward along the chord.
Example Sentence 2
The designer placed the tail surfaces to counter the normal aft shift of the center of pressure in cruise flight.