curvilinear

or cur·vi·lin·e·al

[ kur-vuh-lin-ee-er ]

adjective

1. consisting of or bounded by curved lines:

   a curvilinear figure.

2. forming or moving in a curved line.
3. formed or characterized by curved lines.

curvilinear

/ ˌkɜːvɪˈlɪnɪə /

adjective

1. consisting of, bounded by, or characterized by a curved line
2. along a curved line

   curvilinear motion

3. maths (of a set of coordinates) determined by or determining a system of three orthogonal surfaces

curvilinear

/ kûr′və-lĭn′ē-ər /

1. Formed, bounded, or characterized by curved lines.

Derived Forms

• ˌcurviˌlineˈarity, noun
• ˌcurviˈlinearly, adverb

Other Words From

• cur·vi·lin·e·ar·i·ty [kur-v, uh, -lin-ee-, ar, -i-tee], noun
• curvi·line·ar·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of curvilinear¹

1700–10; < Latin curv ( us ) curve + -i- + linear

Example Sentences

Those viewing the building from the street can catch a peek of LACMA’s 1988 Japanese Pavilion under the new building’s curvilinear body.

From Los Angeles Times

Absent the art, Zumthor’s curvilinear sculptural construction of poured concrete is plainly being advanced as an art object in its own right, independent of its museum function.

From Los Angeles Times

By design, it doesn’t tower over its neighboring vinyl-sided houses but, with its curvilinear roof, it does seem to want to envelop them.

From New York Times

Call it corporate-askance: smooth reflective surfaces that project instructability and power, but with curvilinear façades and insistently interesting textures that keep a hand in the arts.

From Los Angeles Times

Brows furrowed, he drags the mouse across the bright screen to layer a curvilinear drawing of a blossom atop another and hits a button.

From Los Angeles Times