curvilinear

IPA/ˌkɜːvɪˈlɪniə(r)/
IPA/ˌkɜːrvɪˈlɪniər/

curvilinear — adjective

  • curvilinearpositive
  • more curvilinearcomparative
  • most curvilinearsuperlative

1. made up of curved lines rather than straight ones, often used to describe shapes

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

made up of curved lines rather than straight ones, often used to describe shapes, designs, or paths.

Example

The new museum in Bilbao has a striking curvilinear roof that ripples like ocean waves.

describing a building feature

Gabriela traced a curvilinear pattern around the edge of her ceramic bowl.

curvilinear pattern as a common collocation

Common collocations
  • curvilinear design
  • curvilinear shape
  • curvilinear pattern
  • curvilinear form
  • curvilinear motion
Synonyms
  • curving

    more everyday; less technical

  • sinuous

    emphasises a smooth, snake-like flow

  • flowing

    stresses visual smoothness, often in design

Antonyms

Usage Note

Common in architecture, design, art history, and mathematics. Often contrasts with 'rectilinear' (made of straight lines).

Common Mistakes

The road was curvilinear and dangerous.
The road was winding and dangerous.
'curvilinear' is technical and formal; for everyday roads use 'winding' or 'curving'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe lines or shapes that bend rather than run straight, but they differ in register and feel. 'Curvilinear' is formal and technical, used most often in architecture, geometry, art history, and design — it names the property of being built from curves. 'Curving' is its everyday equivalent and works almost anywhere a curve is involved, from roads to drawings. 'Sinuous' emphasises a smooth, snake-like flow and often suggests grace or sensuality, as in a sinuous river or a sinuous dancer. 'Winding' is reserved for things that follow a long, twisting route, especially roads, rivers, and paths. So an architect would call a building's roof curvilinear, a traveller would call a country road winding, and a poet might call a river sinuous.

curvilinear ↗curving ↗sinuous ↗winding ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • curvilinear architecture
  • curvilinear coordinates

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Formed in the late 17th century from Latin 'curvus' meaning 'curved' and 'linea' meaning 'line', combined on the model of 'rectilinear'. The word entered English through scientific and mathematical writing, where it was needed to label the opposite of straight-line geometry.