| 释义 |
curve
I. \ˈkərv, -ə̄v, -əiv\ adjective
Etymology: Latin curvus bent, curved — more at crown
archaic : curved
II. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Latin curvare, from curvus
intransitive verb
: to have or take a turn, change, or deviation from a straight line or course or from a level surface typically with a rounded gradual effect and without sharp breaks or angularity
< the road curves around the town >
transitive verb
1. : to cause to curve : form into a curving surface : bend
< curving the line gracefully >
< curving the strips slightly >
2.
a. : to throw or propel (as a ball) so that a course follows curves or appears to curve
< curving the next pitch >
b. : to throw a curve ball to (a batter)
Synonyms:
bend, twist: curve describes any deviation or swerving from the straight or level that suggests an arc of a circle or an ellipse
< his lips were curved in a smile — Kenneth Roberts >
< over the roof a few swallows were curving — Ellen Glasgow >
bend is likely to refer to an angular turning or curving at a certain point under a degree of force or pressure
< bend the steel strips as required >
< bend the glass tube at the point indicated >
Figuratively bend may imply some forcing or distortion of materials or of facts, or some pressure on or persuasion of people
< was somewhat prone to bend logic to meet the demands of argument — E.S.Bates >
< not all prescriptive speech aims purely and typically at bending the hearer's attitudes to those of the speaker — W.D.Falk >
twist is likely to suggest a force having a spiraling effect throughout the object involved rather than an effect at one point
< the light steel rods twisted together by the explosion >
Figuratively twist suggests a more extreme distortion than bend
< an unconquerable confidence … which understates or twists into a wry joke the fatal moment of war — Times Literary Supplement >
III. noun
(-s)
Etymology: curve (I)
1. : a line or surface that curves : a bending without angles : bend, flexure
< a train going around a curve >
< the stream describing many curves through the valley >
2. : something curved: as
a. : a curving line of the human body; especially : a curving line characteristic of an attractive feminine figure — usually used in plural
b. : french curve
c. curves plural : parentheses
3.
a. or curve ball : a baseball pitch in which the ball swerves or appears to swerve from its normal or expected course of flight because of a spin put on it in delivery — compare inshoot, outshoot
b. : a ball bowled by a right-handed bowler that starts to the right and then veers to the left — compare hook
c. : trick, deception : the act of deluding or breaking a promise
4. : graph: as
a. : a usually curved line representing graphically a variable element as affected by one or more conditions
< the price curve mounts to a peak in summer >
b. : an indication of development or progress : course, rate, trend
5.
a. : a line that may be precisely defined by an equation in such a way that the coordinates of its points are functions of a single independent variable or parameter
b.
(1) : the intersection of two geometrical surfaces
(2) : the path of a moving point
6. : a teacher's arrangement of grades purporting to represent the distribution of excellent, medium, and poor performances that may be expected in a certain assignment or over a certain period
< a teacher marking on a curve will give more C's than A's or D's >
7. : characteristic curve a |