Bow toward center
To incurvate is to curve inward or cause something to bend inward.
The word appears in scientific and technical contexts—biology, optics, architecture—where precise description of curvature matters: The petals incurvate toward the center of the flower.
Incurvate also serves as an adjective meaning curved inward.
The more common forms are incurved and incurvation.
Tense a muscle
One who turns inward
IDEA.org / Words / incurvate
Bow toward center
To incurvate is to curve inward or cause something to bend inward.
The word appears in scientific and technical contexts—biology, optics, architecture—where precise description of curvature matters: The petals incurvate toward the center of the flower.
Incurvate also serves as an adjective meaning curved inward.
The more common forms are incurved and incurvation.
1. bending — flex, Tense a muscle; bend (Curve or flex); bow (Respectful forward inclination); crook (Bent implement or criminal); deflect · hook · arc · curl · coil · twist · warp · inflect · reflex · buckle
2. inward — introvert, One who turns inward; involute (Curve traced while unwinding); infold (Wrap or enclose within); enfold (Wrap something completely); enroll
3. concavity — dish, Food container or recipe; hollow (Empty within); scoop (First-reported story); indent (Text set inward); depress · sink · cup · crater · basin · dimple · recess · cavity · excavate · dip
4. arched — arch, Curved spanning structure; vault (Secure storage chamber); dome (Rounded vault forming roof); crescent (Curved sickle-like arc); cambered · arcuate · lunate · sigmoid · hooked · aquiline
CURVATURE DIRECTIONincurvate ≠ outcurve Pitch breaking outward; convex · recurve · evert
SHAPE STATEincurvate ≠ straighten Make linear or orderly; straight · flatten · unbend · linear · flat
curve, curved, recurring, curvature, recurred, curvaceous, recursive, curvilinear, recursion
Word data: Linguabase (CC0) · www.idea.org/words/incurvate