curve

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 a line or surface that bends gradually; a smooth bend: the delicate curve of her ear * a pattern of straight lines and curves * (especially AmE) a curve in the road * (especially AmE) The driver lost control on a curve and the vehicle hit a tree. * to plot a curve on a graph * (technical) the unemployment-income curve (= a line on a GRAPH showing the relationship between the number of unemployed people and national income) seealsoLEARNINGCURVE 2 (also curve ball) (AmE) (in the game of baseball) a ball that moves in a curve when it is thrown to the BATTER: (figurative) One of the journalists threw the senator a curve (= surprised him by asking a difficult question). verb [usually +adv./prep.] to move or make sth move in the shape of a curve; to be in the shape of a curve: [V] The road curved around the bay. * The ball curved through the air. * His lips curved in a smile. [also VN]