Contour meaning

kŏn'to͝or'
To make or shape the outline of; represent in contour.
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A contour line.
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To build (a road, for example) to follow the contour of the land.
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Following the contour lines of uneven terrain to limit erosion of topsoil.

Contour plowing.

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Shaped to fit the outline or form of something.

A contour sheet.

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The general shape or form of a figure, configuration, etc.

The rounded contours of the foothills.

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The outline of such a shape.
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To make a contour or outline of.
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To mark contour lines on.
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To shape or mold to conform to the contour of something.

A chair contoured to fit the body.

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To construct (a road, etc.) in accordance with natural contours.
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Made so as to conform to the shape or outline of something.

Contour sheets for a bed.

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Characterized by the making of furrows along the natural contour lines so as to avoid erosion, as on a hillside.

Contour farming.

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An outline, boundary or border, usually of curved shape.

The low drag contour of a modern automobile.

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A line on a map or chart delineating those points which have the same altitude or other plotted quantity: a contour line or isopleth.
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(linguistics) A speech sound which behaves as a single segment, but which makes an internal transition from one quality, place, or manner to another.
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The definition of contour is the outline of something, such as of a social or geographic boundary.

Behaviors that are within the bounds of what is socially acceptable are examples of behaviors that fit within the contours of society.

The outline of the mountains seen in the distance is an example of the contour of the mountains.

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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
  • From Wiktionary

Contour Sentence Examples

  • The contour lines showing the heights above sea-level are the directions along which species spread to form zones.

  • The west central portion has considerable irregularities of contour, and the north-west is distinctively hilly.

  • The sleek contour of the vase was eye-catching, so Brenda decided to purchase it.

  • The student paid special attention to the curves of the contour lines when reproducing the teacher's artwork.

  • They had compared Martha's drawing to the contour maps of the area back at Bird Song and decided this was as close to the general area of the mine that any type of roadway touched.

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Words near contour in the Dictionary