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| curve [ kurv ] |
noun (plural curves) |
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| Definition: |
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1. rounded line: a line that bends smoothly and regularly from being straight or flat, like part of a circle or sphere
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2. something shaped in curve: something with a smooth round shape, e.g. a bend in a road
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3. statistics plotted line: a line plotted on a graph from statistical data
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4. education statistical method of grading: a method of distributing students' grades by plotting each person's score on a graph and then dividing this line into grades
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5. mathematics line representing equation: a line whose points are defined by an equation and whose coordinates are functions of an independent variable
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6. baseball
Same as curveball
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verb (past and past participle curved, present participle curv·ing, 3rd person present singular curves) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb move in curve: to move or bend in a curve, or make something move or bend in a curve
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2. transitive verb baseball throw curve ball: to pitch somebody a curve ball
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3. transitive verb grade students relatively to one another: to grade students' work by plotting scores on a graph and then assigning individual grades according to a standard distribution
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| [15th century. < Latin curvus "curved, crooked"] |
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  curved adjective |
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ahead of the curve forward-thinking and ahead of a trend or trends
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behind the curve reactive, or slow to react, to a trend or trends
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pitch or throw somebody a curve to surprise somebody, usually with an unexpected and unwelcome question or response (informal)
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