contour

con·tour  (kntr)

n.

1.

a. The outline of a figure, body, or mass.

b. A line that represents such an outline. See Synonyms at form, outline.

2. A surface, especially of a curving form. Often used in the plural.

3. A contour line.

4. Linguistics The distinctive rising and falling patterns of pitch, tone, or stress.

tr.v. con·toured, con·tour·ing, con·tours

1. To make or shape the outline of; represent in contour.

2. To build (a road, for example) to follow the contour of the land.

adj.

1. Following the contour lines of uneven terrain to limit erosion of topsoil: contour plowing.

2. Shaped to fit the outline or form of something: a contour sheet.

---

[French, alteration (influenced by tour, turn) of Italian contorno, from contornare, to draw in outline : Latin com-, intensive pref.; see com- + Latin tornre, to round off (from tornus, lathe, from Greek tornos; see ter-¹ in Indo-European roots).]

---

contour

Noun

1. an outline

2. same as contour line

Verb

to shape so as to form or follow the contour of something [Italian contornare to sketch]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	contour - a line drawn on a map connecting points of equal height contour line isometric, isometric line - a line connecting isometric points thalweg - a line following the lowest points of a valley
	2.	contour - any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline); "he could barely make out their shapes" shape, configuration, conformation, form keenness, sharpness - thinness of edge or fineness of point bluntness, dullness - without sharpness or clearness of edge or point; "the dullness of the pencil made his writing illegible" spatial property, spatiality - any property relating to or occupying space topography - the configuration of a surface and the relations among its man-made and natural features lobularity - the property of having lobules concaveness, concavity - the property possessed by a concave shape convexity, convexness - the property possessed by a convex shape angularity - the property possessed by a shape that has angles narrowing - an instance of becoming narrow curvature, curve - the property possessed by the curving of a line or surface roundness - the property possessed by a line or surface that is curved and not angular straightness - freedom from crooks or curves or bends or angles crookedness - having or distinguished by crooks or curves or bends or angles stratification - a layered configuration
	3.	contour - a feature (or the order or arrangement of features) of anything having a complex structure; "the contours of the melody"; "it defines a major contour of this administration" characteristic, feature - a prominent attribute or aspect of something; "the map showed roads and other features"; "generosity is one of his best characteristics"
Verb	1.	contour - form the contours of limn, outline, delineate - trace the shape of streamline - contour economically or efficiently

---

contour

noun outline, profile, lines, form, figure, shape, relief, curve, silhouette

Translations

contour [ˈkɔntuəʳ] n → contorno;

(also: contour line) → curva de nivel

---

contour [ˈkɔntuəʳ] n → contour m, profil m;

(also: contour line) → courbe f de niveau

---

contour [ˈkɔntuəʳ] n (also: contour line) → Höhenlinie f;

(shape, outline) (gen pl) → Kontur f, Umriss m

---

contour [ˈkɔntuəʳ] n → contorno, profilo;

(also: contour line) → curva di livello