curve 1 S3 W3 / kɜv $ kɜrv / 名词 [可数名词]

1 a line that gradually bends like part of a circle

curve of

the curve of her hips

a sweeping curve of railroad track

2 a line on a graph that gradually bends and represents a change in the amount or level of something :

The curve illustrates costs per capita.

demand/supply curve

The market demand curve has increased.

3 a bend in a road, river etc :

The car took the curve much too quickly.

4 ( also curve ball ) in baseball, a ball that spins and moves in a curve when it is thrown, so that it is difficult to hit

5 throw somebody a curve American English to surprise someone with a question or problem that is difficult to deal with

6 ahead of/behind the curve informal more advanced than other people in what you do or think, or less advanced than other people

→ learning curve

COLLOCATIONS

形容词

a smooth curve He drew a line on the paper in a smooth curve.

a gentle curve (= one that turns gradually in another direction ) the river’s gentle curves

a sharp/tight curve (= one that turns suddenly in another direction ) There’s a tight curve in the road up ahead.

an upward/downward curve She stood watching the upward curve of the bird’s flight.

a sweeping curve (= wide and gentle ) the sweeping curve of the bay

a graceful curve Her arm arched over her head in a graceful curve.