contour

[kon-toor]

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noun

the outline of a figure or body; the edge or line that defines or bounds a shape or object.

Phonetics. a distinctive pattern of changes in pitch, stress, or tone extending across all or part of an utterance, especially across a sentence, and contributing to meaning.

verb (used with object)

to mark with contour lines.

to make or form the contour or outline of.

to build (a road, railroad track, etc.) in conformity with the contour of the land.

to mold or shape so as to fit a certain configuration: cars with seats that are contoured for comfort.

adjective

molded or shaped to fit a particular contour or form: contour seats.

Agriculture. of or used in a system of plowing, cultivating, sowing, etc., along the contour lines of the land in order to trap water runoff and prevent erosion.

Origin of contour

1655–65; < French, equivalent to con- con- + tour a turn (see tour), modeled on Italian contorno, derivative of contornare to outline; see turn

Related formsre·con·tour, verb (used with object)un·con·toured, adjective

Synonyms for contour

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contour ON THESAURUS.COM

1. configuration, form, boundary.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for contoured

modeled, formed, molded

Examples from the Web for contoured

Historical Examples of contoured

Our tie strengthened and sustained us in our zest for a world so coloured and contoured.
Plum Pudding
Christopher Morley
Stillwell commenced a contoured plane-table survey of the neighbourhood of Winter Quarters.
The Home of the Blizzard
Douglas Mawson
How teeth may best be contoured involves nice questions in geometry.
Inventors at Work
George Iles
To ensure the utmost strength in the machines themselves they are contoured in ample curves.
Inventors at Work
George Iles
The grinding tools he employs he has contoured in such wise as to produce desired curves free from error.
Inventors at Work
George Iles

British Dictionary definitions for contoured

contour

noun

the outline of a mass of land, figure, or body; a defining line

See contour line
(as modifier)a contour map

(often plural) the shape or surface, esp of a curving formthe contours of her body were full and round

(modifier) shaped to fit the form of somethinga contour chair

a rising and falling variation pattern, as in music and intonation

verb (tr)

to shape so as to form the contour of something

to mark contour lines on

to construct (a road, railway, etc) to follow the outline of the land

Word Origin for contour

C17: from French, from Italian contorno, from contornare to sketch, from tornare to turn

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

Word Origin and History for contoured

contour

1660s, a term in painting and sculpture, from French contour "circumference, outline," from Italian and Medieval Latin contornare "to go around," from Latin com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + tornare "to turn (on a lathe);" see turn (v.).

First recorded application to topography is from 1769. Earlier the word was used to mean "bedspread, quilt" (early 15c.) in reference to its falling over the sides of the mattress. Related: Contoured. Contour line in geography is from 1844.