Contour Definition
kŏnto͝or
contouring, contours
noun
contours
The outline of a figure, body, or mass.
American Heritage
The general shape or form of a figure, configuration, etc.
The rounded contours of the foothills.
Webster's New World
The outline of such a shape.
Webster's New World
A contour line.
American Heritage
A varying characteristic or quality of something, such as a melody.
American Heritage
verb
contouring, contours
To make a contour or outline of.
Webster's New World
To mark contour lines on.
Webster's New World
To shape or mold to conform to the contour of something.
A chair contoured to fit the body.
Webster's New World
To construct (a road, etc.) in accordance with natural contours.
Webster's New World
adjective
Made so as to conform to the shape or outline of something.
Contour sheets for a bed.
Webster's New World
Characterized by the making of furrows along the natural contour lines so as to avoid erosion, as on a hillside.
Contour farming.
Webster's New World
Other Word Forms of Contour
Noun
Singular:
contourPlural:
contoursOrigin of Contour
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French alteration (influenced by tour turn) of Italian contorno from contornare to draw in outline Latin com- intensive pref. com– Latin tornāre to round off (from tornus lathe) (from Greek tornos terə-1 in Indo-European roots)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Wiktionary
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