curvilinear
|cur-vi-lin-ear|
🇺🇸
/ˌkɝːvɪˈlɪniər/
🇬🇧
/ˌkɜːvɪˈlɪnɪə/
made of curved lines
Etymology
'curvilinear' originates from Latin, specifically from elements of Late Latin or Medieval Latin such as 'curvilineus', formed from 'curvus' meaning 'bent' and 'linea' meaning 'line'.
'curvilinear' changed from the Late/Medieval Latin form 'curvilineus' (a compound of 'curvus' + 'linea') into English, entering modern usage via scientific and technical Latin/French usages and becoming the English adjective 'curvilinear'.
Initially it meant 'having a bent or curved line', and over time it retained that core sense while extending into technical uses (e.g., curvilinear coordinates, curvilinear motion).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
curvilinearity: the quality or state of being curvilinear (a transformation of the base form 'curvilinear').
The curvilinearity of the sculpture gives it a dynamic sense of motion.
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Adjective 1
consisting of, formed by, or characterized by curved lines.
The architect used a curvilinear façade to soften the building's appearance.
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Adjective 2
(Technical) Relating to or described by curves rather than straight lines (often used in mathematics, physics, and engineering).
In the study, curvilinear coordinates made it easier to model flow around the airfoil.
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Last updated: 2025/09/04 14:25