curve

curve
I UK [kɜː(r)v] / US [kɜrv] noun [countable]
Word forms "curve":
singular curve plural curves
**
1) a shape or line with a gradual smooth bend

From high above I saw the gentle curve of the bay.

a) a bend in a road or river

As he rounded the curve he saw her standing by the gate.

b) used about a woman's breasts or hips

Jane's swimsuit emphasized her curves.

c) maths a curved line drawn on a graph

throw someone a curve (ball) — mainly American

informal to do something unexpected that makes someone confused or causes problems


II UK [kɜː(r)v] / US [kɜrv] verb [intransitive/transitive]
Word forms "curve":
present tense I/you/we/they curve he/she/it curves present participle curving past tense curved past participle curved
*
a) to form a curve, or to make something form a curve

The track curved round the mountain.

He curved his mouth into a weary smile.

b) to move in a curve, or to make something move in a curve

Simons curved the ball around the goalkeeper and into the net.


English dictionary. 2014.

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Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • curve — [kɜːv ǁ kɜːrv] noun [countable] a diagram showing how a price or an amount changes in relation to another price, amount etc: • The price curve is rising as the bond gets closer to maturity. US /kɜːv/ noun [C] ► GRAPHS & CHARTS a line on a graph… …   Financial and business terms

  • Curve — Curve, n. [See {Curve}, a., {Cirb}.] 1. A bending without angles; that which is bent; a flexure; as, a curve in a railway or canal. [1913 Webster] 2. (Geom.) A line described according to some low, and having no finite portion of it a straight… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • curve — vb Curve, bend, twist are comparable when they mean to swerve or cause to swerve or deviate from a straight line or a normal direction or course. Curve is the word of widest application, and it may describe any deviation or swerving from the… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • curve — [kʉrv] adj. [L curvus, bent: see CROWN] Archaic curved n. 1. a line having no straight part; bend having no angular part 2. a thing or part having the shape of a curve 3. the act of curving, or the extent of this 4. [pl.] the pronounced curving… …   English World dictionary

  • curve — ⇒CURVE, adj. Rare. Courbe. J appris les secrets Des pertuisés roseaux et de la curve flûte (MORÉAS, Sylves, 1896, p. 161). Rem. Canada 1930, BÉL. 1957, DUL. 1968 attestent curve, subst. fém., région. (Canada) au sens de « courbe, tournant,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Curve — Curve, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Curved} (k[^u]rvd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Curving}.] [L. curvare., fr. curvus. See {Curve}, a., {Curb}.] To bend; to crook; as, to curve a line; to curve a pipe; to cause to swerve from a straight course; as, to curve a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Curve — (k[^u]rv), a. [L. curvus bent, curved. See {Cirb}.] Bent without angles; crooked; curved; as, a curve line; a curve surface. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Curve — (englisch für „Kurve; Rundung“) bezeichnet: eine britische Rock /Electronica Band, siehe Curve (Band) eine US amerikanische Lesbenzeitschrift, siehe Curve (Zeitschrift) Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • curve — curve; curve·some; in·curve; …   English syllables

  • Curve — Curve, v. i. To bend or turn gradually from a given direction; as, the road curves to the right. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • curve — [n] arched, rounded line or object ambit, arc, arch, bend, bight, bow, camber, catenary, chord, circle, circuit, circumference, compass, concavity, contour, crook, curlicue, curvation, curvature, ellipse, festoon, flexure, hairpin, half moon,… …   New thesaurus

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