Edge vs. Curve: What's the Difference?
Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on October 5, 2023
"Edge" refers to the sharp, defined boundary of a surface, while "Curve" describes a smoothly bent or arched line or surface.
Key Differences
"Edge" often denotes a boundary or limit. It can represent the outermost line or border of an object or surface. "Curve," however, is not necessarily about boundaries, but about the form or bend of a line or surface.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 25, 2023
The term "Edge" suggests a certain sharpness or definiteness. For instance, a piece of paper has distinct edges that one can touch and feel. In contrast, "Curve" implies a smooth, continuous bend, like that seen in a winding road or a gentle arc.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 25, 2023
In geometric terms, "Edge" is typically a straight line, especially when discussing shapes like squares or rectangles. "Curve" does not have this limitation; it simply represents a line that isn't straight.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 25, 2023
Functionally, an "Edge" might serve as a defining boundary or a point of separation. "Curve," on the other hand, often indicates a transition, a change in direction, or a deviation from straightness.
Janet White
Sep 25, 2023
"Edge" and "Curve" have versatile applications in different contexts, from mathematics to art to everyday language. While both can describe aspects of an object or surface, "Edge" typically refers to boundaries, and "Curve" to bends or arches.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 25, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Basic Definition
Boundary or limit of a surface.
Smoothly bent line or surface.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 25, 2023
Functional Representation
Serves as a boundary or separation point.
Indicates transition or change in direction.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 25, 2023
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Edge and Curve Definitions
Curve
A bent or rounded line or surface.
She admired the curve of the sculpture.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 25, 2023
Curve
A line that deviates from straightness in a smooth, continuous fashion.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
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Curve
A surface that deviates from planarity in a smooth, continuous fashion.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
A line or border where a surface ends.
The picture frame has golden edges.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 25, 2023
Curve
Something characterized by such a line or surface, especially a rounded line or contour of the human body.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
A penetrating, incisive quality
"His simplicity sets off the satire, and gives it a finer edge" (William Hazlitt).
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
A trend derived from or as if from such a graph
"Once again, the politicians are behind the curve" (Ted Kennedy).
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
A slight but noticeable sharpness, harshness, or discomforting quality
His voice had an edge to it.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
A graphic representation showing the relative performance of individuals as measured against each other, used especially as a method of grading students in which the assignment of grades is based on predetermined proportions of students.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
Keenness, as of desire or enjoyment; zest
The brisk walk gave an edge to my appetite.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
To move in or take the shape of a curve
The path curves around the lake.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
To tilt (a ski or both skis) in such a way that an edge or both edges bite into the snow.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
(obsolete) Bent without angles; crooked; curved. Category:en:Curves
A curve line
A curve surface
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
To advance or push slightly or gradually
The dog edged the ball with its nose.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
A gentle bend, such as in a road.
You should slow down when approaching a curve.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
A simple figure containing no straight portions and no angles; a curved line.
She scribbled a curve on the paper.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
To surpass or beat by a small margin. Often used with out
The runner edged her opponent out at the last moment.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
(analytic geometry) A continuous map from a one-dimensional space to a multidimensional space.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
(geometry) A one-dimensional figure of non-zero length; the graph of a continuous map from a one-dimensional space.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
(geometry) A one-dimensional face of a polytope. In particular, the joining line between two vertices of a polygon; the place where two faces of a polyhedron meet.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
(algebraic geometry) An algebraic curve; a polynomial relation of the planar coordinates.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
The thin cutting side of the blade of an instrument, such as an ax, knife, sword, or scythe; that which cuts as an edge does, or wounds deeply, etc.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
A sharp terminating border; a margin; a brink; an extreme verge.
The cup is right on the edge of the table.
He is standing on the edge of a precipice.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
Sharpness; readiness or fitness to cut; keenness; intenseness of desire.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
(transitive) To cause to swerve from a straight course.
To curve a ball in pitching it
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
The border or part adjacent to the line of division; the beginning or early part (of a period of time)
In the edge of evening
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
(intransitive) To bend or turn gradually from a given direction.
The road curves to the right
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
(cricket) A shot where the ball comes off the edge of the bat, often unintentionally.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
(transitive) To grade on a curve (bell curve of a normal distribution).
The teacher will curve the test.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
(transitive) (slang) To reject, to turn down romantic advances.
I was once curved three times by the same woman.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
A level of sexual arousal that is maintained just short of reaching the point of inevitability, or climax.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
Bent without angles; crooked; curved; as, a curve line; a curve surface.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
The point of data production in an organization (the focus of edge computing), as opposed to the cloud.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
A bending without angles; that which is bent; a flexure; as, a curve in a railway or canal.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
(transitive) To move an object slowly and carefully in a particular direction.
He edged the book across the table.
The muggers edged her into an alley and demanded money.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
A line described according to some low, and having no finite portion of it a straight line.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
(intransitive) To move slowly and carefully in a particular direction.
He edged away from her.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
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 ball in pitching it.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
To bend or turn gradually from a given direction; as, the road curves to the right.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
(transitive) To trim the margin of a lawn where the grass meets the sidewalk, usually with an electric or gas-powered lawn edger.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
A baseball thrown with spin so that its path curves as it approach the batter
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
(figurative) To make sharp or keen; to incite; to exasperate; to goad; to urge or egg on.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
Turn sharply; change direction abruptly;
The car cut to the left at the intersection
The motorbike veered to the right
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
The thin cutting side of the blade of an instrument; as, the edge of an ax, knife, sword, or scythe.
He which hath the sharp sword with two edges.
Slander,Whose edge is sharper than the sword.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
Any sharp terminating border; a margin; a brink; extreme verge; as, the edge of a table, a precipice.
Upon the edge of yonder coppice.
In worst extremes, and on the perilous edgeOf battle.
Pursue even to the very edge of destruction.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
Sharpness; readiness or fitness to cut; keenness; intenseness of desire.
The full edge of our indignation.
Death and persecution lose all the ill that they can have, if we do not set an edge upon them by our fears and by our vices.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
Bend or cause to bend;
He crooked his index finger
The road curved sharply
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
The border or part adjacent to the line of division; the beginning or early part; as, in the edge of evening.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
To furnish with an edge as a tool or weapon; to sharpen.
To edge her champion's sword.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
A line representing data in graph form.
The growth curve showed positive trends.
Sara Rehman
Sep 25, 2023
Curve
A ball's trajectory in sports deviating from a straight path.
He threw a curve ball.
Sara Rehman
Sep 25, 2023
Edge
To furnish with a fringe or border; as, to edge a dress; to edge a garden with box.
Hills whose tops were edged with groves.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
To make sharp or keen, figuratively; to incite; to exasperate; to goad; to urge or egg on.
By such reasonings, the simple were blinded, and the malicious edged.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Curve
A grading method where scores are adjusted.
The professor graded on a curve.
Sara Rehman
Sep 25, 2023
Edge
To move by little and little or cautiously, as by pressing forward edgewise; as, edging their chairs forwards.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
A sharp side formed by the intersection of two surfaces of an object;
He rounded the edges of the box
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
A strip near the boundary of an object;
He jotted a note on the margin of the page
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
Edge
Lie adjacent to another or share a boundary;
Canada adjoins the U.S.
England marches with Scotland
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 01, 2023
FAQs
Are "Curve" and "Bend" synonymous?
They can be used interchangeably in many contexts, but "Curve" often implies a smoother, more gradual bend.
Janet White
Sep 25, 2023
Can "Curve" refer to anything straight?
No, "Curve" inherently indicates a bend or arch, as opposed to a straight line.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 25, 2023
Is an "Edge" always sharp?
No, while edges can be sharp, they can also simply represent boundaries or limits.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 25, 2023
Can a circle have an "Edge"?
In common language, we'd refer to it as the circumference or boundary, but not typically an "edge" in the way a square has edges.
Harlon Moss
Sep 25, 2023
What does "Edge" commonly refer to?
"Edge" typically denotes the boundary or limit of a surface or object.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 25, 2023
What's the "edge of reason"?
It's a figurative phrase referring to the boundary of what's considered rational or sane.
Janet White
Sep 25, 2023
In which fields are "Edge" and "Curve" commonly used?
Both terms are used in geometry, art, sports, and everyday language, among other fields.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 25, 2023
Can one object have both edges and curves?
Absolutely. For example, a rectangle with rounded corners has both edges and curves.
Harlon Moss
Sep 25, 2023
What's the "cutting edge"?
It refers to the forefront of technological advancements or trends. It can also mean the sharp side of a blade.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 25, 2023
Can "Edge" denote an advantage?
Yes, in contexts like sports or business, having an "edge" means having a slight advantage.
Harlon Moss
Sep 25, 2023
Does "Curve" always mean a gentle bend?
No, curves can be steep or gentle, but they always denote a deviation from straightness.
Sara Rehman
Sep 25, 2023
How do "Edge" and "Curve" relate in graphic design?
In design, edges often define boundaries of objects, while curves might determine an object's shape or the flow of design elements.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 25, 2023
How is "Curve" used in statistics?
"Curve" can refer to a graphical representation of data, such as a bell curve.
Harlon Moss
Sep 25, 2023
What's a "learning curve"?
It represents the time and effort required to acquire new skills or knowledge.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 25, 2023
Can objects have multiple edges?
Yes, objects like polygons have multiple edges, which are their defining straight lines.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 25, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Huma SaeedHuma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.
