understeer

[ noun uhn-der-steer; verb uhn-der-steer ]
/ noun ˈʌn dərˌstɪər; verb ˌʌn dərˈstɪər /

noun

a handling characteristic of an automotive vehicle that causes it to turn less sharply than the driver intends because the front wheels slide to the outside of the turn before the rear wheels lose traction.

verb (used without object)

(of an automotive vehicle) to undergo understeer, especially excessively.
Compare oversteer.

Origin of understeer

First recorded in 1935–40; under- + steer1

British Dictionary definitions for understeer

understeer
/ (ˈʌndəˌstɪə) /

verb (intr)

(of a vehicle) to turn less sharply, for a particular movement of the steering wheel, than anticipated