01 n. The act of curving, or the state of being bent or curved; a curving or bending, normal or abnormal, as of a line or surface from a rectilin…
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1.
The act of curving, or the state of being bent or curved; a curving or bending, normal or abnormal, as of a line or surface from a rectilinear direction; a bend; a curve.“The elegant curvature of their fronds.” — Darwin.
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2.
The amount of degree of bending of a mathematical curve, or the tendency at any point to depart from a tangent drawn to the curve at that point.(Math.)
Phrases & compounds
Aberrancy of curvature —
the deviation of a curve from a circular form.
Absolute curvature —
See under Absolute.
Angle of curvature —
one that expresses the amount of curvature of a curve.
Chord of curvature —
See under Chord.
Curvature of the spine —
an abnormal curving of the spine, especially in a lateral direction.
Radius of curvature —
the radius of the circle of curvature, or osculatory circle, at any point of a curve.