curve (kûrv)n.1. a. A line that deviates from straightness in a smooth, continuous fashion.b. A surface that deviates from planarity in a smooth, continuous fashion.c. Something characterized by such a line or surface, especially a rounded line or contour of the human body.2. A relatively smooth bend in a road or other course.3. a. A line representing data on a graph.b. A trend derived from or as if from such a graph: “Once again, the politicians are behind the curve” (Ted Kennedy).4. A graphic representation showing the relative performance of individuals as measured against each other, used especially as a method of grading students in which the assignment of grades is based on predetermined proportions of students.5. Mathematics a. The graph of a function on a coordinate plane.b. The intersection of two surfaces in three dimensions.c. The graph of the solutions to any equation of two variables.6. Baseball A curve ball.7. Slang Something that is unexpected or designed to trick or deceive.v. curved, curv·ing, curves v.intr. To move in or take the shape of a curve: The path curves around the lake.v.tr.1. To cause to curve.2. Baseball To pitch (a ball) with a curve.3. To grade (students, for example) on a curve.[From Middle English, curved, from Latin curvus; see sker- in Indo-European roots. N., sense 6, short for curve ball.]curv?ed·ness n.curv?y adj.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.curve (k??v) n1. a continuously bending line that has no straight parts2. something that curves or is curved, such as a bend in a road or the contour of a woman’s body3. the act or extent of curving; curvature4. (Mathematics) maths a. a system of points whose coordinates satisfy a given equation; a locus of pointsb. the graph of a function with one independent variable5. (Mathematics) a line representing data, esp statistical data, on a graph: an unemployment curve. 6. ahead of the curve ahead of the times; ahead of schedule7. behind the curve behind the times; behind schedule8. (Tools) short for French curvevbto take or cause to take the shape or path of a curve; bend[C15: from Latin curv?re to bend, from curvus crooked] ?curvy adjCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014curve (k?rv) n., v. curved, curv?ing, adj. n. 1. a continuously bending line, without angles. 2. the act or extent of curving. 3. any curved outline, form, thing, or part. 4. a curved section of a road, railroad track, path, etc. 5. 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. a collection of points whose coordinates are continuous functions of a single independent variable. 8. a misleading or deceptive trick. 9. 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. 10. a curved guide used in drafting. v.i. 11. to bend in a curve; take the course of a curve. v.t. 12. to cause to curve. 13. to grade on a curve. 14. to pitch a curve to in baseball. adj. 15. curved. Idioms: 1. ahead of (or behind) the curve, at the forefront of (or lagging behind) recent developments, trends, etc. 2. throw someone a curve, to take someone by surprise, esp. so as to cause chagrin. [1565?75; (