curvature

American  

[kur-vuh-cher, -choor] / ˈkɜr və tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər /

noun

1. the act of curving or the state of being curved.

2. a curved condition, often abnormal.

   curvature of the spine.

3. the degree of curving of a line or surface.

4. Geometry.

   1. (at a point on a curve) the derivative of the inclination of the tangent with respect to arc length.

   2. the absolute value of this derivative.

5. something curved.

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curvature British  

/ ˈkɜːvətʃə /

noun

1. something curved or a curved part of a thing

2. any normal or abnormal curving of a bodily part

   curvature of the spine

3. geometry the change in inclination of a tangent to a curve over unit length of arc. For a circle or sphere it is the reciprocal of the radius See also radius of curvature centre of curvature

4. the act of curving or the state or degree of being curved or bent

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Etymology

Origin of curvature

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin curvātūra, equivalent to curvāt ( us ) past participle of curvāre to bend, curve + -ūra -ure. See -ate ¹

Example Sentences

It describes the curvature of the quantum space through which electrons travel and influences many microscopic properties of materials.

From Science Daily • Feb. 1, 2026

Isla, 14, from Plymouth, was diagnosed with scoliosis, or curvature of the spine, about 18 months ago and has had to wear a brace for 20 hours a day since.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026

In the High North, satellites orbiting the equator can often be obscured by the curvature of the Earth, meaning fewer visible satellites than elsewhere on the planet.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 27, 2025

The researchers also connect geometric torsion to the curvature of spacetime on large scales.

From Science Daily • Dec. 15, 2025

Eddington measured the position of a star during a solar eclipse and spotted the curvature that Einstein had predicted.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife