Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Curvature
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.
Cowper.
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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Curvature
CURVATURE
,Noun.