contour

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Etymology

Borrowed from French contour, from contourner, equivalent to con- + tour.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkɒntʊə(ɹ)/, /-tɔː(ɹ)/

Noun

contour (plural contours)

1. An outline, boundary or border, usually of curved shape.

   the low drag contour of a modern automobile

2. A line on a map or chart delineating those points which have the same altitude or other plotted quantity: a contour line or isopleth; (metonymically) the landform or its surface.

   Synonyms: contour line

3. (linguistics) a speech sound which behaves as a single segment, but which makes an internal transition from one quality, place, or manner to another.

   Hyponyms: diphthong, contour tone, affricate

4. (figurative) A general description giving the most important points.

Translations

• French: contour
• German: Kontur
• Italian: contorno, profilo
• Portuguese: contorno
• Russian: ко́нтур
• Spanish: contorno

Translations

• French: ligne de niveau
• German: Höhenlinie, Höhenlinien, Isohypse, Niveaulinie, Höhenschichtlinie
• Russian: изоли́ния

Verb

contour (contours, present participle contouring; simple past and past participle contoured)

1. (transitive) To form a more or less curved boundary or border upon.
2. (transitive) To mark with contour lines.
3. (intransitive) To practise the makeup technique of contouring.

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