concave

[ adjective, verb kon-keyv, kon-keyv; noun kon-keyv ]

See synonyms for: concave concaved concaves concaving on Thesaurus.com

adjective

curved like a segment of the interior of a circle or hollow sphere; hollow and curved.: Compare convex (def. 1).
Geometry. (of a polygon) having at least one interior angle greater than 180°.

Obsolete. hollow.

noun

a concave surface, part, line, or thing.
Machinery. a concave piece, as one against which a drum rotates.

verb (used with object),con·caved, con·cav·ing.

to make concave.

Origin of concave

1375–1425; late Middle English (<Middle French ) <Latin concavus, hollow. See con-, cave

Other words from concave

con·cave·ly, adverb
con·cave·ness, noun
sub·con·cave, adjective
sub·con·cave·ly, adverb
sub·con·cave·ness, noun

Words Nearby concave

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use concave in a sentence

The concave metal strip starts higher under the heel, then swoops low under the forefoot before rounding up again under the toe, resulting in a springy ride that increases its rebound the harder you run.
The Best Road and Trail Running Shoes of 2022 | jversteegh | October 26, 2021 | Outside Online
Burin says a concave front could theoretically create a faster flow of water in the center, and it would also likely create more side-to-side stability.
Use physics to pull off gravity-defying surfing moves | Noah Lederman | October 5, 2021 | Popular-Science
The concave leather exterior gives your headphones and ear pads a safe and cozy place to sleep, and the cork feet prevent them from being knocked over.
The best headphone stands for audiophiles, gamers, and anyone with a desk | Irena Collaku | July 23, 2021 | Popular-Science
A concave blade will easily make big cuts through softer materials.
Three Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Knife | Wes Siler | September 3, 2020 | Outside Online
This wireless keyboard has concave keys to snugly fit your fingertips, creating an ultra-comfortable typing experience.
Serious upgrades for your computer keyboard | PopSci Commerce Team | September 2, 2020 | Popular-Science

Sagging milk-filled breasts must appear perky; the once-swollen abdomen is made concave.
The Post-Pregnancy Weight-Loss Obsession | Katie Gentile | January 23, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
Ellis's patent boot studs to save the sole, and the Euknemida, or concave-convex fastening springs, are the latest novelties.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham | Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
Lamb turned the paper over and winked at himself in the concave mirror of the semi-circle of bar.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942 | Various
The seat should slope downward a little toward the back, be slightly concave, and have rounded edges in front.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine | Austin Malley
Of the two broader sides one was concave, the other convex; while of the narrower sides one was flat and the other indented.
The Private Life of the Romans | Harold Whetstone Johnston
His hair is long and black, and in his throat is a thick concave bone.
Buffon's Natural History. Volume IX (of 10) | Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon

British Dictionary definitions for concave

concave

/ (ˈkɒnkeɪv, kɒnˈkeɪv) /

adjective

curving inwards
physics having one or two surfaces curved or ground in the shape of a section of the interior of a sphere, paraboloid, etc: a concave lens

maths (of a polygon) containing an interior angle greater than 180°
an obsolete word for hollow

verb

(tr) to make concave

Origin of concave

C15: from Latin concavus arched, from cavus hollow

Compare convex

Derived forms of concave

concavely, adverb
concaveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for concave

concave

[ kŏn′kāv′ ]

Curved inward, like the inside of a circle or sphere.

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