◙ noun 1. a line or outline which gradually deviates from being straight for some or all of its length • 曲线，曲形轮廓 »the parapet wall sweeps down in a bold curve. 胸墙呈明显曲线往下伸展。 a place where a road deviates from a straight path • 转弯，弯道 »the vehicle rounded a curve. 车辆转过一个弯道。 (curves)a curving contour of a woman's figure • （女子身材的）曲线 a line on a graph (whether straight or curved) showing how one quantity varies with respect to another • 图表曲线（直或曲线，表示量的变化情况） »the population curve. 人口曲线。 (也作 curve ball)[Baseball] a delivery in which the pitcher causes the ball to deviate from a straight path by imparting spin • [棒球] 曲线球 ◙ verb 1. form or cause to form a curve • （使）弯曲 »[no obj.] her mouth curved in a smile. 她嘴儿弯弯微笑了。 »[as adj. curved] birds with long curved bills. 有长弯喙的鸟。 »[with obj.] starting with arms outstretched, curve the body sideways. 从伸展手臂开始，向侧曲体。
【语源】
1. late Middle English: from Latin curvare 'to bend', from curvus 'bent'. The noun dates from the late 17th cent