curvilinear

or cur·vi·lin·e·al

[ kur-vuh-lin-ee-er ]

adjective

1. consisting of or bounded by curved lines:

   a curvilinear figure.

2. forming or moving in a curved line.
3. formed or characterized by curved lines.

curvilinear

/ ˌkɜːvɪˈlɪnɪə /

adjective

1. consisting of, bounded by, or characterized by a curved line
2. along a curved line

   curvilinear motion

3. maths (of a set of coordinates) determined by or determining a system of three orthogonal surfaces

curvilinear

/ kûr′və-lĭn′ē-ər /

1. Formed, bounded, or characterized by curved lines.

Derived Forms

• ˌcurviˌlineˈarity, noun
• ˌcurviˈlinearly, adverb

Other Words From

• cur·vi·lin·e·ar·i·ty [kur-v, uh, -lin-ee-, ar, -i-tee], noun
• curvi·line·ar·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of curvilinear¹

1700–10; < Latin curv ( us ) curve + -i- + linear

Example Sentences

Silvestre Varela was hurtling toward the U.S. goal when Ronaldo fed him a pass of curvilinear purity.

From The Daily Beast

In each bay of the Triforium there are three arches with curvilinear tracery.

From Project Gutenberg

There are the degrees of direction of line, curvilinear or angular.

From Project Gutenberg

The same principle is true of designs upon the curvilinear plan.

From Project Gutenberg

The rifflers of sculptors and a few other files are curvilinear in their central line.

From Project Gutenberg

A wing added in the seventeenth century, with quaint curvilinear gable, projects into the garden behind.

From Project Gutenberg