| / English Dictionary |
CURVATURE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The property possessed by the curving of a line or surface
Synonyms:
curvature; curve
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("curvature" is a kind of...):
configuration; conformation; contour; form; shape (any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline))
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "curvature"):
curliness; waviness ((of hair) a tendency to curl)
straightness ((of hair) lack of a tendency to curl)
Derivation:
curve (form an arch or curve)
Sense 2
Meaning:
The rate of change (at a point) of the angle between a curve and a tangent to the curve
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("curvature" is a kind of...):
derivative; derived function; differential; differential coefficient; first derivative (the result of mathematical differentiation; the instantaneous change of one quantity relative to another; df(x)/dx)
Sense 3
Meaning:
(medicine) a curving or bending; often abnormal
Example:
curvature of the spine
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Hypernyms ("curvature" is a kind of...):
condition; status (a state at a particular time)
Domain category:
medical specialty; medicine (the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques)
Derivation:
curve (bend or cause to bend)
curve (form an arch or curve)
Context examples:
Abnormal sideways curvature of the spine that is present at birth.
(Congenital Postural Scoliosis, NCI Thesaurus)
An abnormal enlargement of the terminal phalanges accompanied by increased length-wise curvature of the nails, giving the digits a club-like appearance.
(Clubbing of Fingers, NCI Thesaurus)
The portion of the greater omentum between the greater curvature of the stomach and the inferior surface of the diaphragm.
(Gastrophrenic Ligament, NCI Thesaurus)
Either of two arteries (left gastric and right gastric) that supply blood to the stomach and lesser curvature.
(Gastric Artery, NCI Thesaurus)
One of two (right and left) arteries along the greater curvature of the stomach that supply blood to the greater omentum and stomach.
(Gastroepiploic Artery, NCI Thesaurus)
Either of two veins (left gastric and right gastric) that drain blood away from the stomach and lesser curvature.
(Gastric Vein, NCI Thesaurus)
These technologies share the concept of scanning an extremely sharp tip (3-50 nm radius of curvature) across the object surface.
(Atomic Resolution Microscopy, NCI Thesaurus)
Abnormally increased convexity in the curvature of the thoracic spine as viewed from the side.
(Kyphosis, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)
The anterior concavity in the curvature of the lumbar and cervical spine as viewed from the side.
(Lordosis, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)
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