the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes
"The car's path left a sharp curve in the snow where it skidded around the bend."
a line on a graph representing data
"The steep upward curve on the sales graph showed how quickly our new product was gaining popularity."
a pitch of a baseball that is thrown with spin so that its path curves as it approaches the batter
"The pitcher threw a sharp curve that dipped suddenly just over the plate, leaving the batter swinging at nothing."
A gentle bend, such as in a road.
"The driver slowed down as they approached the sharp curve at the end of the winding mountain road."
In plain English: A curve is a line that bends instead of going straight.
"The winding road followed the gentle curve of the riverbank."
Usage: Use "curve" to describe any smooth, gradual bend or turn, such as in a road, river, or line. Avoid confusing it with sharp angles or straight segments.
To bend; to crook.
"She had to curve her finger around the small doorknob to unlock it."
In plain English: To curve means to bend or turn away from being straight.
"The road curves sharply to the left."
Usage: Use "curve" as a verb to describe something bending into a smooth arc or turning gradually away from a straight line, such as a road curving around a hill. Avoid using it for sharp angles or sudden breaks in direction, which are better described with words like "turn," "bend," or "kink."
Bent without angles; crooked; curved.
"The old garden hose lay on the grass in a loose, wavy curve that snaked across the lawn."
In plain English: When something is curved, it bends into a round shape instead of being straight.
"The curved road led us to the top of the hill."
Usage: Use "curve" as an adjective to describe something that bends smoothly without sharp angles or straight edges. It is often seen in phrases like "curved road" or "curved mirror" to indicate a continuous, rounded shape.
The word curve entered English in the 1690s from the Latin curvus, meaning "bent" or "curved." This Latin term ultimately traces back to a Proto-Indo-European root related to bending or turning.