Adjacent Words

Contour definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CONTOUR, n. The outline; the line that defines or terminates a figure.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a line drawn on a map connecting points of equal height [syn: contour, contour line]
2: any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline); "he could barely make out their shapes" [syn: shape, form, configuration, contour, conformation]
3: a feature (or the order or arrangement of features) of anything having a complex structure; "the contours of the melody"; "it defines a major contour of this administration" v
1: form the contours of

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: French, from Italian contorno, from contornare to round off, from Medieval Latin, to turn around, from Latin com- + tornare to turn on a lathe — more at turn Date: 1662 1. an outline especially of a curving or irregular figure ; shape; also the line representing this outline 2. the general form or structure of something ; characteristic — often used in plural <contours of a melody> <to delineate the tortured psychological contours of the tribal past — B. J. Phillips> 3. a usually meaningful change in intonation in speech Synonyms: see outline II. adjective Date: 1844 1. following contour lines or forming furrows or ridges along them <contour flooding> <contour farming> 2. made to fit the contour of something <a contour couch> <contour sheets> III. transitive verb Date: 1871 1. a. to shape the contour of b. to shape so as to fit contours 2. to construct (as a road) in conformity to a contour

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 an outline, esp. representing or bounding the shape or form of something. 2 the outline of a natural feature, e.g. a coast or mountain mass. 3 a line separating differently coloured parts of a design. --v.tr. 1 mark with contour lines. 2 carry (a road or railway) round the side of a hill. Phrases and idioms: contour line a line on a map joining points of equal altitude. contour map a map marked with contour lines. contour ploughing ploughing along lines of constant altitude to minimize soil erosion. Etymology: F f. It. contorno f. contornare draw in outline (as COM-, tornare turn)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Contour Con*tour", n. [F. contour, fr. contourner to mark the outlines; con- + tourner to turn. See Turn.] 1. The outline of a figure or body, or the line or lines representing such an outline; the line that bounds; periphery. Titian's coloring and contours. --A. Drummond. 2. (Mil.) The outline of a horizontal section of the ground, or of works of fortification. Contour feathers (Zo["o]l.), those feathers that form the general covering of a bird. Contour of ground (Surv.), the outline of the surface of ground with respect to its undulation, etc. Contour line (Topographical Suv.), the line in which a horizontal plane intersects a portion of ground, or the corresponding line in a map or chart.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(contours) 1. You can refer to the general shape or outline of an object as its contours. (LITERARY) ...the texture and colour of the skin, the contours of the body... N-COUNT: usu pl, usu with supp, oft N of n 2. A contour on a map is a line joining points of equal height and indicating hills, valleys, and the steepness of slopes. ...a contour map showing two hills and this large mountain in the middle. N-COUNT

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Outline, profile.

Moby Thesaurus

broad lines, configuration, delineate, delineation, features, figuration, figure, framework, galbe, gestalt, limn, line, lineaments, lineation, lines, main features, outline, profile, relief, shapes, silhouette, skeleton, tournure