curve Definition
curve (kʉrv)
noun
- a line having no straight part; bend having no angular part
- a thing or part having the shape of a curve
- the act of curving, or the extent of this
- the pronounced curving outline of a shapely female figure
- ☆ Baseball a ball thrown by a right-handed pitcher that curves to the pitcher's left, or one thrown by a left-handed pitcher that curves to the pitcher's right
- a curved line or similar graphic representation showing variations occurring or expected to occur in prices, business conditions, group achievements, etc.
- French curve
- Math. a one-dimensional continuum of points in a space of two or more dimensions, such as a parabola in a plane or a helix in three-dimensional space: a straight line or line segment is a type of curve
transitive verb, intransitive verb curved, curv′·ing
- to form a curve by bending
- to move in a curved path
curve Idioms
ahead of the curve
anticipating (or not keeping up with) current trends, developments, etc.
curve Synonyms
curve
n.
A bend
sweep, flexure, bow, arch, crescent, horseshoe, circuit, curvature, crook, oxbow, catenary, trajectory, conic section, sinus, camber. Types of curves include: bell curve, bell-shaped curve, hairpin curve, S-curve, sine curve, extrapolated curve, hyperbolic curve, parabolic curve, normal curve, asymptomatic curve, logarithmic curve, French curve, linear curve, parabola, hyperbola, circle, ellipse, ogee, arc, chord.
In baseball, a pitch that curves
incurve, outcurve, dropcurve, in*, out*, drop*, outdrop*, screwball*, upshoot*, jumpball*, straight drop*, slant*, slider*, bender*, curly one*, breaker*, hook*, snake*.
curve Synonyms
curve Usage Examples
Object
- staircase: A wide curving staircase 3 is lit from above by a dome embossed with the town's Coat of Arms.
- blade: Noise emissions are minimized on the burners by the inclusion of fans with reverse curved blades and sound-deadening material in the burner structure.
- roof: The main internal area of the supermarket is covered by the curved roof with a 40m clear span.
Converse of object
- learn: There will probably be a learning curve in the arrival of wireless USB.
- accentuate: Bumps are displayed, cleavages revealed and curves accentuated by the new generation of well cut, and frankly sexy, maternity wear.
Preposition: over
3lbs: The latest trend seems to be for fast taper rods of high test curves over 3lbs.
Adjective modifier
- steep: He said: It's been a steep learning curve.
- elliptic: Elliptic curves offer major advances on older systems such as increased speed, less memory and smaller key sizes.
- sweeping: Oulton is a wide circuit, with long sweeping curves, a rare mixture of gradients and some picturesque scenery.
- upward: Thus there will be an upward sloping demand curve.
- caloric: This climbing up the PES leads to the decreased slope of the caloric curve at higher energies.
- lumbar: It fits snugly into your lumbar curve, relieving strain on the lower back muscles.
Modifies a noun
fitting: An important technical detail, Bayesian curve fitting, is discussed at length.
Noun used with modifier
- stress-strain: The program includes the non-linear elastic behavior beyond the limit of proportionality using the generalized stress-strain curve of ESDU 76016.
- calibration: Note that multiple plots on the calibration curve always use the default curve.
- yield: The graph below shows the ' normal ' shape of a yield curve.
- dose-response: These points of departure approaches mad better use of all the data to estimate the dose-response curve.
- indifference: Summary The shape of indifference curves depends upon the preferences of the individual.
- titration: Each titration curve should be given a unique label.
Preposition: of
2.5lbs: The carp rod is a 12ft, two piece rod, with a test curve of 2.5lbs.
Browse dictionary entries near curve
- ‹ curvature
- ‹ curvaceous
- ‹ curule
- ‹ curtsy
- ‹ curtsey
- ‹ Curtiz, Michael originally Mihaly Kertesz
- ‹ Curtiz, Michael
- ‹ Curtiss
- ‹ Curtis,Tony pseudonym of Bernie Schwartz
- ‹ Curtis,Tony
- curveball ›
- curved ›
- curvet ›
- curvi- ›
- curvilinear ›
- curvy ›
- Curzon ›
- Curzon (of Kedleston), Lord George Nathaniel ›
- Cusco ›
- cuscus ›

