Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense curves, present participle curving, past tense, past participle curved
1. countable noun
A curve is a smooth, gradually bending line, for example part of the edge of a circle.
...the curve of his lips. [+ of]
...a curve in the road. [+ in]
Synonyms: bend, turn, loop, arc More Synonyms of curve
2. verb
If something curves, or if someone or something curves it, it has the shape of a curve.
Her spine curved. [VERB]
The track curved away below him. [VERB adverb/preposition]
...a knife with a slightly curving blade. [VERB-ing]
A small, unobtrusive smile curved the cook's thin lips. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: bend, turn, wind, twist More Synonyms of curve
3. verb
If something curves, it moves in a curve, for example through the air.
The ball curved strangely in the air. [VERB]
4. countable noun
You can refer to a change in something as a particular curve, especially when it is represented on a graph.
Each firm will face a downward-sloping demand curve.
Was it just a temporary blip on an otherwise healthy growth curve?
5. See also learning curve
6.
See throw someone a curve/throw someone a curve ball
7.
See ahead of the curve
curve in British English
(kɜːv)
noun
1.
a continuously bending line that has no straight parts
2.
something that curves or is curved, such as a bend in a road or the contour of a woman's body
3.
the act or extent of curving; curvature
4. mathematics
a.
a system of points whose coordinates satisfy a given equation; a locus of points
b.
the graph of a function with one independent variable
5.
a line representing data, esp statistical data, on a graph
an unemployment curve
6. ahead of the curve
7. behind the curve
8. short for French curve
verb
9.
to take or cause to take the shape or path of a curve; bend
10. (transitive) US slang
to reject (a person) emphatically
▶ Related adjective: sinuous
Derived forms
curvedly (ˈkɜːvɪdlɪ)
adverb
curvedness (ˈcurvedness)
noun
curvy (ˈcurvy)
adjective
Word origin
C15: from Latin curvāre to bend, from curvus crooked
curve in American English
(kɜrv)
adjective
1. Archaic
curved
noun
2.
a line having no straight part; bend having no angular part
3.
a thing or part having the shape of a curve
4.
the act of curving, or the extent of this
5. [pl.]
the pronounced curving outline of a shapely female figure
6. US, 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
7.
a curved line or similar graphic representation showing variations occurring or expected to occur in prices, business conditions, group achievements, etc.
8.
French curve
9. Ancient Mathematics
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
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: curved or ˈcurving
10.
to form a curve by bending
11.
to move in a curved path
Idioms:
ahead of the curve
SYNONYMY NOTE: curve suggests a swerving or deflection in a line that follows or approximates the arcof a circle [he curved the next pitch]; bend1 refers to the curving of something that is normally straight but that yields to pressureor tension [to bend a wire]; twist, in this connection, implies greater resistance in the object to be bent and oftenconnotes a wrenching out of the normal line [to twist one's arm]; turn, in this comparison often interchangeable with , bend1, is used specifically where the object is curved back upon itself [to turn a bed sheet]
Word origin
L curvus, bent: see crown
More idioms containing
curve
throw someone a curve ball
COBUILD Collocations
curve
upward curve
Examples of 'curve' in a sentence
curve
Then slowly lower your body back over curve.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
What should have been a gentle curve has turned into a handbrake turn.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The stalls have been reconfigured into a raked curve matching the shape of the circle.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
Under what conditions does the labor supply curve bend backward?
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
What a great learning curve that was for them.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The ridge curved away to the right and we had no idea where the top was.
Eric Newby A BOOK OF LANDS AND PEOPLES (2003)
But the relative position of consumers and firms along these curves is affected by their initial endowments.
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
Pipe orange curved lines over each pumpkin.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
One is that the recent change in the curve may reflect hopes of low inflation in future.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We need to get ahead of the curve.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Yoga was a wonder cure for her curved spine and changed her life.
The Sun (2016)
Cutting a curved edge into large paving units always looks awkward to me.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We will have to take some people through a learning curve for them to understand the concept.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Both of their bodies slightly tilt and curve in the same fashion.
The Sun (2014)
The houses followed the curve of the road.
Aldiss, Brian Somewhere East of Life (1994)
The body that curves itself to the brokenness it is surrounded by.
Christianity Today (2000)
Explain how the per unit burden of a tax is affected by the price elasticity of the demand and supply curves.
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
In other languages
curve
British English: curve NOUN
A curve is a smooth, gradually bending line, for example part of the edge of a circle.
...the curve of his lips.
American English: curve
Brazilian Portuguese: curva
Chinese: 曲线
European Spanish: curva
French: courbe
German: Kurve
Italian: curva
Japanese: 曲線
Korean: 곡선
European Portuguese: curva
Latin American Spanish: curva
British English: curve VERB
If something curves, or if someone or something curves it, it has the shape of a curve.
Her spine curved.
American English: curve
Brazilian Portuguese: curvar(-se)
Chinese: 曲线
European Spanish: curvarse
French: s'incurver
German: sich runden
Italian: essere curvo
Japanese: 曲げる/曲がる
Korean: 굽히다
European Portuguese: curvar-se
Latin American Spanish: curvarse
All related terms of 'curve'
J-curve
a curve which, in some economic theories, indicates that a decline in the value of a nation's currency initially causes an increase, and then a decrease , in that nation's balance-of-trade deficit
bell curve
a curve resembling the outline of a flared bell , usually representing a normal distribution
RIAA curve
a graphical representation , adopted as a worldwide standard, of the amplitude in relation to frequency response required for correct reproduction of microgroove disc recordings, compensating for the characteristics of the recording process
sine curve
a curve of the equation y = sin x
yield curve
A yield curve is a graph showing the interest rates of bonds that mature at different times.
caustic curve
a curve formed by the intersection of a caustic surface with a plane
demand curve
A demand curve is a graph showing the price of an item and the amount consumers want to buy .
French curve
a thin plastic sheet with profiles of several curves , used by draughtsmen for drawing curves
growth curve
a curve on a graph in which a variable is plotted against time to illustrate the growth of the variable
hairpin curve
A hairpin curve or a hairpin is a very sharp bend in a road , where the road turns back in the opposite direction.
Laffer curve
a curve on a graph showing government tax revenue plotted against percentage tax rates . It has been used to show that a cut in a high tax rate can increase government revenue
normal curve
a symmetrical bell-shaped curve representing the probability density function of a normal distribution . The area of a vertical section of the curve represents the probability that the random variable lies between the values which delimit the section
upward curve
You can refer to a change in something as a particular curve , especially when it is represented on a graph .
adoption curve
a curve on a graph plotting the number of people using a new product against the time from its initial release
Gaussian curve
→ bell curve
infinity curve
a large, single-coloured surface against which a subject is photographed , the absence of shadows providing the illusion that the background extends to infinity
learning curve
A learning curve is a process where people develop a skill by learning from their mistakes . A steep learning curve involves learning very quickly.
Phillips curve
a curve that purports to plot the relationship between unemployment and inflation on the theory that as inflation falls unemployment rises and vice versa
distribution curve
the curve or line of a graph in which cumulative frequencies are plotted as ordinates and values of the variate as abscissas
L-shaped curve
a curve on a graph that shows a sharp fall after which values remain low for a long period
V-shaped curve
a curve on a graph that shows a sharp fall followed by a correspondingly sharp rise
behind the curve
behind the times; behind schedule
bell-shaped curve
→ bell curve
characteristic curve
a graph of the density of a particular photographic material plotted against the logarithm of the exposure producing this density
death-valley curve
a curve on a graph showing how the capital of a new company plotted against time declines sharply as the venture capital is used up before income reaches predicted levels
ahead of the curve
People, products or ideas that are ahead of the curve are more advanced or modern than others of their kind .
throw sb a curve ball
to surprise someone by doing something unexpected , sometimes putting them at a disadvantage
throw someone a curve/throw someone a curve ball
If someone throws you a curve or if they throw you a curve ball , they surprise you by doing something you do not expect .
Chinese translation of 'curve'
curve
(kəːv)
n(c)
曲线(線) (qūxiàn) (条(條), tiáo)
(in road) 弯(彎)曲部分 (wānqū bùfen)
vi
[road, line]弯(彎)曲 (wānqū)
[structure, spine etc]成曲线(線)形 (chéng qūxiàn xíng)
(noun)
Definition
a continuously bending line with no straight parts
a curve in the road
Synonyms
bend
The crash occurred on a sharp bend.
turn
You can't do a right-hand turn here.
loop
She reached for a loop of garden hose.
arc
The 71 offices are spread out in an arc around London.
curvature
He had a curvature of the spine.
camber
(verb)
Definition
to form into or move in a curve
The track curved away below him.
Synonyms
bend
Bend the bar into a horseshoe.
turn
the corner where our street turns into the main road
wind
The Moselle winds through some 160 miles of tranquil countryside.
twist
The road twists and turns between pleasant little cottages.
bow
He bowed slightly before taking her bag.
arch
the domed ceiling arching overhead
snake
The road snaked through the forested mountains.
arc
coil
A python had coiled itself around the branch of the tree.
swerve
Drivers swerved to avoid the debris.
related words
related adjectivesinuous
Additional synonyms
in the sense of arc
Definition
something curved in shape
The 71 offices are spread out in an arc around London.
Synonyms
curve,
bend,
bow,
arch,
crescent,
half-moon
in the sense of arch
Definition
to form an arch
the domed ceiling arching overhead
Synonyms
curve,
bridge,
bend,
bow,
span,
arc,
embow
in the sense of bow
Definition
to lower (one's head) or bend (one's knee or body) as a sign of respect, greeting, agreement, or shame