curvature

[ kur-vuh-cher, -choo r ]

/ ˈkɜr və tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR curvature ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of curving or the state of being curved.

a curved condition, often abnormal: curvature of the spine.

the degree of curving of a line or surface.

Geometry.

(at a point on a curve) the derivative of the inclination of the tangent with respect to arc length.
the absolute value of this derivative.

something curved.

Nearby words

curtsey, curtsy, curule, curule chair, curvaceous, curvature, curvature aberration, curvature hyperopia, curvature myopia, curvature of field, curvature of space

Origin of curvature

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin curvātūra, equivalent to curvāt(us) past participle of curvāre to bend, curve + -ūra -ure. See -ate¹

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

Examples from the Web for curvature

Even if you put it on a big building, the curvature of the earth prevents radar from going to the airplane.
Flight 370 And Our Unsolved Mystery Obsession|Emily Shire|March 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was described by Shakespeare as having a hunchback and indeed the skeleton shows evidence of curvature of the spine.
CONFIRMED: Skeleton Found Under City Car Park IS That Of Villainous Richard III|Tom Sykes|February 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The peculiarities to be noted are the curvature, indistinctness, and false colouring of the image.
Half-hours with the Telescope|Richard A. Proctor
Select the pieces of tube for this instrument as free from curvature as possible.
The Methods of Glass Blowing and of Working Silica in the Oxy-Gas Flame|W. A. Shenstone

This curvature is increased or diminished according to the force of the wind.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 595, May 28, 1887|Various
The effects of the curvature of the earth are obviated or exaggerated.
Curiosities of Heat|Lyman B. Tefft
She came in now—bringing the other something in a breakfast-cup—a girl with a curvature of the spine.
The Quaint Companions|Leonard Merrick

British Dictionary definitions for curvature

curvature

/ (ˈkɜːvətʃə) /

noun

something curved or a curved part of a thing

any normal or abnormal curving of a bodily partcurvature of the spine

geometry the change in inclination of a tangent to a curve over unit length of arc. For a circle or sphere it is the reciprocal of the radiusSee also radius of curvature, centre of curvature

the act of curving or the state or degree of being curved or bent

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

curvature

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of curvature

Examples from the Web for curvature

British Dictionary definitions for curvature

curvature

noun

Medicine definitions for curvature

curvature

n.