- curve
-
I. adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin curvus; akin to Greek kyrtos convex, Middle Irish cruinn round
Date: 15th century
archaic bent or formed into a curve
II. verb
(curved; curving)
Etymology: Latin curvare, from curvus
Date: 1594
intransitive verb
to have or take a turn, change, or deviation from a straight line or plane surface without sharp breaks or angularity
transitive verb
1. to cause to curve
2. to throw a curveball to (a batter)
3. to grade (as an examination) on a curve
III. noun
Date: 1666
1.
a. a line especially when curved: as
(1) the path of a moving point
(2) a line defined by an equation so that the coordinates of its points are functions of a single independent variable or parameter
b. the graph of a variable
2. something curved: as
a. a curving line of the human body
b. plural parenthesis
3.
a. curveball
b. trick, deception
4. a distribution indicating the relative performance of individuals measured against each other that is used especially in assigning good, medium, or poor grades to usually predetermined proportions of students rather than in assigning grades based on predetermined standards of achievement
5. trend <a growth curve in advertising revenues>; especially a prevalent trend or rate of progress — often used in the phrases ahead of the curve and behind the curve <companies that are behind the curve in adopting new technologies> • curvy adjective
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
См. также в других словарях:
curve — [kɜːv ǁ kɜːrv] noun [countable] a diagram showing how a price or an amount changes in relation to another price, amount etc: • The price curve is rising as the bond gets closer to maturity. US /kɜːv/ noun [C] ► GRAPHS & CHARTS a line on a graph… … Financial and business terms
Curve — Curve, n. [See {Curve}, a., {Cirb}.] 1. A bending without angles; that which is bent; a flexure; as, a curve in a railway or canal. [1913 Webster] 2. (Geom.) A line described according to some low, and having no finite portion of it a straight… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
curve — vb Curve, bend, twist are comparable when they mean to swerve or cause to swerve or deviate from a straight line or a normal direction or course. Curve is the word of widest application, and it may describe any deviation or swerving from the… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
curve — [kʉrv] adj. [L curvus, bent: see CROWN] Archaic curved n. 1. a line having no straight part; bend having no angular part 2. a thing or part having the shape of a curve 3. the act of curving, or the extent of this 4. [pl.] the pronounced curving… … English World dictionary
curve — ⇒CURVE, adj. Rare. Courbe. J appris les secrets Des pertuisés roseaux et de la curve flûte (MORÉAS, Sylves, 1896, p. 161). Rem. Canada 1930, BÉL. 1957, DUL. 1968 attestent curve, subst. fém., région. (Canada) au sens de « courbe, tournant,… … Encyclopédie Universelle
Curve — Curve, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Curved} (k[^u]rvd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Curving}.] [L. curvare., fr. curvus. See {Curve}, a., {Curb}.] To bend; to crook; as, to curve a line; to curve a pipe; to cause to swerve from a straight course; as, to curve a… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Curve — (k[^u]rv), a. [L. curvus bent, curved. See {Cirb}.] Bent without angles; crooked; curved; as, a curve line; a curve surface. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Curve — (englisch für „Kurve; Rundung“) bezeichnet: eine britische Rock /Electronica Band, siehe Curve (Band) eine US amerikanische Lesbenzeitschrift, siehe Curve (Zeitschrift) Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung … Deutsch Wikipedia
curve — curve; curve·some; in·curve; … English syllables
Curve — Curve, v. i. To bend or turn gradually from a given direction; as, the road curves to the right. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
curve — [n] arched, rounded line or object ambit, arc, arch, bend, bight, bow, camber, catenary, chord, circle, circuit, circumference, compass, concavity, contour, crook, curlicue, curvation, curvature, ellipse, festoon, flexure, hairpin, half moon,… … New thesaurus
