curve
Line without angles
A curve is a line that bends smoothly, without angles.
Roads curve through mountains, rivers curve across plains.
The word extends to anything with such a shape: the curve of a hip, a curve in the road.
To curve is to bend or follow such a path.
A curveball in baseball breaks unexpectedly; to throw someone a curve is to surprise them with something difficult.
To grade on a curve adjusts scores relative to class performance.
Ahead of the curve means anticipating trends before others do.
Curve winding around center
- helixSpiraling three-dimensional curve
- loopCurve closing on itself
- coilWound circular arrangement
- swirlRotating, curving movement
whorl · curl · wave · undulation · sinuous · serpentine · ogee · volute
Arm's middle joint
- crookBent implement or criminal
- doglegSharp angular bend
- flexureA bend or curve
- meanderTo travel without direction
switchback · hairpin · oxbow · serpentine · winding · sinuous · kink · hook
Center-to-perimeter distance
- semicircleHalf a ring
- chordNotes sounded simultaneously
- tangentLine touching curve once
- sectorDistinct division of whole
parabola · hyperbola · ellipse · conic · quadrant · spline · bezier · arcuate
Pitch with spin-induced arc
- pitcherPouring vessel or hurler
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- breakInterrupt continuity
- sliderAdjustable interface element
screwball · movement · rotation · trajectory · batter · strike · deception · hook
Fashionable or pelvic joint
- waistTorso's narrowest circumference
- bustFailure or sculpture
- hourglassGravity-powered sand timer
- silhouetteFilled-in outline shape
contour · voluptuous · shapely · figure · feminine · bodice · corset · flattering
Period of increase
- downturnEconomic decline period
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- trajectoryPath of moving object
- forecastPrediction of future conditions
exponential · plateau · inflection point · acceleration · decline · spike · flattening · hockey stick
Storyline or land parcel
- axisRotation reference line
- slopeAngled terrain or steepness
- asymptoteUnreached bounding curve
- interceptSeize en route
tangent · function · exponential · logarithmic · sigmoid · trendline · inflection point · polynomial
spiral
Curve winding around center
swirl · whorl · curl · wave · undulation · sinuous · serpentine · ogee · volute · scroll
elbow
Arm's middle joint
meander · switchback · hairpin · oxbow · serpentine · winding · sinuous · kink · hook · bow
radius
Center-to-perimeter distance
- semicircleHalf a ring
- chordNotes sounded simultaneously
- tangentLine touching curve once
sector · parabola · hyperbola · ellipse · conic · quadrant · spline · bezier · arcuate · sweep
curveball
Pitch with spin-induced arc
slider · screwball · movement · rotation · trajectory · batter · strike · deception · hook · yakker
hip
Fashionable or pelvic joint
silhouette · contour · voluptuous · shapely · figure · feminine · bodice · corset · flattering · proportion
upswing
Period of increase
- downturnEconomic decline period
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- trajectoryPath of moving object
forecast · exponential · plateau · inflection point · acceleration · decline · spike · flattening · hockey stick
plot
Storyline or land parcel
intercept · tangent · function · exponential · logarithmic · sigmoid · trendline · inflection point · polynomial · regression
hairpin
U-shaped fastener for tresses
- switchbackReversing mountain path
- bankedTilted on a curve
- guardrailRoadside safety barrier
shoulder · camber · winding · scenic · dangerous · sharp · gradual · warning sign · drift · apex
- geometryangles, circles, angle, shapes, lines
- mathematicsalgebra, arithmetic, calculus, geometry, number
- bowlingbowling pin, bowling ball, bowling pins, bowling balls, bowling lane
- Graphingaxis, x-axis, y-axis, coordinate, coordinates
- math conceptsangle, numbers, algebra, circle, equations
- charts & graphsbar chart, pie chart, line graph, scatter plot, histogram
curvestraight line
Undeviated continuous path
line · straightaway · straight · linear path · direct line
- flatten the curveSpread outbreak over longer period
- learning curveRate of skill acquisition
- curve ballPitch with spin-induced arc
- kicks to the curbRejects abruptly and completely
- curved bladesWeapons bent along length
- blind curvesTurns with blocked sightlines
curb, curved, curvy, curves, curving, curvature, curvilinear, incurve, curvier