Curve vs. Contour
Difference Between Curve and Contour
Curveadjective
(obsolete) Bent without angles; crooked; curved.
a curve linea curve surfaceContournoun
An outline, boundary or border, usually of curved shape.
the low drag contour of a modern automobileCurvenoun
A gentle bend, such as in a road.
You should slow down when approaching a curve.Contournoun
A line on a map or chart delineating those points which have the same altitude or other plotted quantity: a contour line or isopleth.
Curvenoun
A simple figure containing no straight portions and no angles; a curved line.
She scribbled a curve on the paper.Contournoun
(linguistics) a speech sound which behaves as a single segment, but which makes an internal transition from one quality, place, or manner to another.
Curvenoun
A grading system based on the scale of performance of a group used to normalize a right-skewed grade distribution (with more lower scores) into a bell curve, so that more can receive higher grades, regardless of their actual knowledge of the subject.
The teacher was nice and graded the test on a curve.Contourverb
(transitive) To form a more or less curved boundary or border upon.
Curvenoun
(analytic geometry) A continuous map from a one-dimensional space to a multidimensional space.
Contourverb
(transitive) To mark with contour lines.
Curvenoun
(geometry) A one-dimensional figure of non-zero length; the graph of a continuous map from a one-dimensional space.
Contournoun
a line drawn on a map connecting points of equal height
Curvenoun
(algebraic geometry) An algebraic curve; a polynomial relation of the planar coordinates.
Contournoun
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline);
he could barely make out their shapes through the smokeCurvenoun
(topology) A one-dimensional continuum.
Contournoun
a feature (or the order or arrangement of features) of anything having a complex structure;
the contours of the melodyit defines a major contour of this administrationCurvenoun
The attractive shape of a woman's body.
Contourverb
form the contours of
Curveverb
(transitive) To bend; to crook.
to curve a lineto curve a pipeCurveverb
(transitive) To cause to swerve from a straight course.
to curve a ball in pitching itCurveverb
(intransitive) To bend or turn gradually from a given direction.
the road curves to the rightCurveverb
To grade on a curve (bell curve of a normal distribution).
The teacher will curve the test.Curveverb
(slang) To reject, to turn down romantic advances
Curvenoun
the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes
Curvenoun
a line on a graph representing data
Curvenoun
a baseball thrown with spin so that its path curves as it approach the batter
Curvenoun
the property possessed by the curving of a line or surface
Curvenoun
curved segment (of a road or river or railroad track etc.)
Curveverb
turn sharply; change direction abruptly;
The car cut to the left at the intersectionThe motorbike veered to the rightCurveverb
extend in curves and turns;
The road winds around the lakeCurveverb
form an arch or curve;
her back archesher hips curve nicelyCurveverb
bend or cause to bend;
He crooked his index fingerthe road curved sharplyCurveverb
form a curl, curve, or kink;
the cigar smoke curled up at the ceiling
