concave

Bowl-shaped, not domed

Concave describes a surface that curves inward, like the inside of a bowl or a cave.

The opposite of convex.

A concave mirror curves inward and can focus light to a point; a concave lens is thinner at the center than at the edges.

The concave surface collected rainwater.

geometry

parabola

Symmetrical open plane curve

hyperbolaCurve with two branches
ellipseConic section curve
arcCurved line segment

curvature · vertex · axis · focus · curve · indentation · spherical · cylindrical · crescent · camber

surface

bowl

Concave food container

spoonEating utensil for liquids
ladleDeep spoon for serving
scoopFirst-reported story

crater · dimple · indentation · hollow · pit · recess · pocket · depression · basin · valley

optics

lens

Light-focusing curved glass

mirrorReflective viewing surface
divergingSeparating from a common point
focalOf a central point

telescope · eyepiece · microscope · binoculars · magnification · aberration · cornea · retina · image · inverted

reflector

parabolic

Shaped like a conic section

dishFood container or recipe
antennaBroadcast signal receiver
satelliteOrbiting celestial body

radar · solar · collector · headlight · flashlight · spotlight · concentrator · receiver · focus · amplify

Categories

curvatureGaussian curvature, spinal curvature, arc, bend, camber
shield termsheater, kite, round, oval, buckler
shape wordsround, circular, oval, angular, curved
hollowed outscooped, gouged, carved, emptied, gutted
opticslens, lenses, mirror, mirrors, prism
shape propertiesconvex, symmetric, regular, irregular, closed

Opposites

surface curvature

concaveconvex

Curved outward externally

bulging · protruding · protuberant · domed · cambered

Phrases

concave lensesInward-curving light spreaders
concave mirrorInward-curved reflecting surface
concave lensInward-curving light disperser

Family

concavity, concavities, concavely

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G