Curve Definition

kûrv
curved, curves, curving
noun
curves
A line having no straight part; bend having no angular part.
Webster's New World
A surface that deviates from planarity in a smooth, continuous fashion.
American Heritage
Something characterized by such a line or surface, especially a rounded line or contour of the human body.
American Heritage
The act of curving, or the extent of this.
Webster's New World
The pronounced curving outline of a shapely female figure.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
adjective
(obsolete) Bent without angles; crooked; curved.
A curve line.
A curve surface.
Wiktionary
Curved.
Webster's New World
verb
curved, curves, curving
To form a curve by bending.
Webster's New World
To move in a curved path.
Webster's New World
To pitch (a ball) with a curve.
American Heritage

To employ a curve on (test scores, etc.)

Webster's New World
To grade (students, for example) on a curve.
American Heritage
Antonyms:
idiom
ahead of the curve
  • anticipating (or not keeping up with) current trends, developments, etc.
Webster's New World
on a curve
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Curve

Noun

Singular:
curve
Plural:
curves

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Curve

Origin of Curve

  • From Middle English curved from Latin curvus sker-2 in Indo-European roots N., sense 6, short for curve ball

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Latin curvus (“bent, curved”)

    From Wiktionary

Find Similar Words

Find similar words to curve using the buttons below.

Words Starting With

Words Ending With

Unscrambles

curve