/ kɜːv; NAmE kɜːrv/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a line or surface that bends gradually; a smooth bend :
the delicate curve of her ear
a pattern of straight lines and curves
( especially NAmE )
a curve in the road
( especially NAmE )
The driver lost control on a curve and the vehicle hit a tree.
to plot a curve on a graph
( technical )
the unemployment-income curve (= a line on a graph showing the relationship between the number of unemployed people and national income)
—see also learning curve
2.
(also ˈcurve ball ) ( NAmE ) ( in baseball ) a ball that moves in a curve when it is thrown to the batter :
( figurative )
One of the journalists threw the senator a curve (= surprised him by asking a difficult question) .
■ verb
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to move or make sth move in the shape of a curve; to be in the shape of a curve :
[ v ]
The road curved around the bay.
The ball curved through the air.
His lips curved in a smile.
[also vn ]
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin curvare to bend, from curvus bent. The noun dates from the late 17th cent.