Curve
/kɜːrv/
Definitions
3 meaningsA line that bends continuously without any sharp angles.
/kɜːrv/
A gradually bending line.
The road ahead has a sharp curve.
💡 Simply: Imagine drawing a line that bends instead of going straight. A rollercoaster has lots of curves! It's a bendy line.
👶 For kids: A curved line isn't straight, it's bendy like a banana.
More Examples
The artist used a gentle curve to depict the hills.
The shape of the river follows a natural curve.
How It's Used
"The graph of the equation forms a smooth curve."
"The building features a graceful curve in its facade."
To cause something to bend or form a curve.
/kɜːrv/
To bend or form into a curve.
The sculptor curved the clay into an elegant shape.
💡 Simply: To make something bend like a banana or a rainbow. You can curve a ball, like in soccer, or curve a piece of wood.
👶 For kids: To make something bend, like when you make a line that is not straight.
More Examples
The road curves around the mountain.
The pitcher curved the ball to make it difficult to hit.
How It's Used
"The engineer curved the metal to fit the design."
"The pitcher curved the baseball towards the batter."
A gradual change or trend, often visualized as a graph.
/kɜːrv/
A change in something's direction or course.
The economic curve showed a period of growth.
💡 Simply: A line or graph that shows how something changes over time. Like how the price of ice cream might go up in the summer!
👶 For kids: A change over time that can go up, down, or stay the same.
More Examples
The curve of the epidemic rose sharply.
The sales curve indicated increasing demand.
How It's Used
"The sales curve showed an upward trend."
"The interest rate curve provides insight into market expectations."
Idioms & expressions
curveball
Something unexpected or difficult.
"The sudden change in plans threw me a curveball."
ahead of the curve
Being more advanced or innovative than others.
"Their technology is ahead of the curve in the industry."
From Latin *curvus*, meaning 'bent' or 'curved'. It entered English in the 14th century.
Used since the 14th century, initially describing a bent or curved form; later adopted for graphical and statistical representations.
Memory tip
Think of a road winding through a valley – that's a curve!
Word Origin
"bent, curved"