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
Synonyms:
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:
contour
Plural:
contours

Origin of Contour

  • 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

  • Borrowing from French.

    From Wiktionary

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