curve

[[t]kɜrv[/t]]

n. v. curved, curv•ing, adj.

1) math. cv a continuously bending line, without angles

2) the act or extent of curving

3) any curved outline, form, thing, or part

4) cvb a curved section of a road, railroad track, path, etc

5) spo Also called curve′ ball`

a baseball pitch delivered with a spin that causes the ball to veer from a normal straight path, away from the side from which it was thrown

6) a graphic representation of the variations effected in something by the influence of changing conditions; graph

7) math. Math. a collection of points whose coordinates are continuous functions of a single independent variable

8) a misleading or deceptive trick

9) edu an academic grading system based on the scale of performance of the group, so that those performing better, regardless of their actual knowledge, receive higher grades:

to mark on a curve[/ex]

10) a curved guide used in drafting

11) to bend in a curve; take the course of a curve

12) to cause to curve

13) to grade on a curve

14) spo to pitch a curve to in baseball

15) curved

•

- ahead of (or behind) the curve throw someone a curve

Etymology: 1565–75; (< MF) < L curvus crooked, bent, curved curv′y, adj. curv•i•er, curv•i•est.