CURVE


Meaning of CURVE in English

I. ˈkərv 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 ; curv·ing )

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 ˈkər-vē adjective

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.