curve
[noun]
Synonyms:
- bend, arc, curvature, loop, trajectory, turn
[verb]
Synonyms:
- bend, arc, arch, coil, hook, spiral, swerve, turn, twist, wind

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Antonyms: straighten
Related Words: deflect, divert, turn, deviate, swerve, veer, coil, curl, spiral, twist, wind, incurve, incurvation, incurvature, inflection, rondure, circuit, circumference, compass

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. curve¹ S3 W3 /kɜːv $ kɜːrv/ noun [countable]

1. a line that gradually bends like part of a circle
curve of
the curve of her hips
a sweeping curve of railroad track

2. a line on a graph that gradually bends and represents a change in the amount or level of something:
The curve illustrates costs per capita.
demand/supply curve
The market demand curve has increased.

3. a bend in a road, river etc:
The car took the curve much too quickly.

4. (also ˈcurve ball) in baseball, a ball that spins and moves in a curve when it is thrown, so that it is difficult to hit

5. throw somebody a curve American English to surprise someone with a question or problem that is difficult to deal with

6. ahead of/behind the curve informal more advanced than other people in what you do or think, or less advanced than other people
⇒ learning curve

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. curve² verb [intransitive and transitive]
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: curvare, from curvus 'curved']
to bend or move in the shape of a curve, or to make something do this:
The track curved round the side of the hill.
A smile curved her lips.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

curve
noun
ADJ. gentle, graceful, slight, smooth | sharp, tight The road went round in a tight curve.
wide | sensual, voluptuous the voluptuous curve of her hips
downward, upward
VERB + CURVE form, make The seats were arranged to form a curve.
PREP. in a ~ The road follows the coast in a wide curve.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

curve
verb
ADV. gently, slightly a gently curving stream
away, down, up The path curved down towards the village.
PREP. around/round, towards, etc. The road curved away round the back of the hill.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

curve

a smooth curve
He drew a line on the paper in a smooth curve.
a gentle curve (=one that turns gradually in another direction)
the river's gentle curves
a sharp/tight curve (=one that turns suddenly in another direction)
There's a tight curve in the road up ahead.
an upward/downward curve
She stood watching the upward curve of the bird's flight.
a sweeping curve (=wide and gentle)
the sweeping curve of the bay
a graceful curve
Her arm arched over her head in a graceful curve.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

curve
kə:v
See: throw a curve

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲