Cur·va·ture n.
1. The act of curving, or the state of being bent or curved; a curving or bending, normal or abnormal, as of a line or surface from a rectilinear direction; a bend; a curve.
The elegant curvature of their fronds. --Darwin.
2. Math. The amount of degree of bending of a mathematical curve, or the tendency at any point to depart from a tangent drawn to the curve at that point.
Aberrancy of curvature Geom., the deviation of a curve from a circular form.
Absolute curvature. See under Absolute.
Angle of curvature Geom., one that expresses the amount of curvature of a curve.
Chord of curvature. See under Chord.
Circle of curvature. See Osculating circle of a curve, under Circle.
Curvature of the spine Med., an abnormal curving of the spine, especially in a lateral direction.
Radius of curvature, the radius of the circle of curvature, or osculatory circle, at any point of a curve.
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