curvature
noun
- a curving or being curved
- a curve; curved part of anything
- Geom. the rate of deviation of a curve or curved surface from a straight line or plane surface tangent to it
- Med. an abnormal curving of a part: curvature of the spine
See curvature in American Heritage Dictionary 4
cur·va·ture
noun- The act of curving or the state of being curved.
- Mathematics
a. The ratio of the change in the angle of a tangent that moves over a given arc to the length of the arc.
b. The limit of this ratio as the length of the arc approaches zero.
c. The reciprocal of the radius of a circle.
- Medicine A curving or bending, especially an abnormal one: curvature of the spine.
Origin: Middle English, from Latin curvātūra, from curvātus, past participle of curvāre, to bend, from curvus, curved; see sker-2 in Indo-European roots.
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