noun Uncommon

contour

KON-taw

Contour (noun) means the outline or shape of something, especially a curved edge. Example: “The dress was cut to follow the contours of her body.”

noun

The outline or shape of something, especially a curved edge.

"The dress was cut to follow the contours of her body."

"Rain had smoothed the contours of the old stone steps."

A line on a map joining points of equal height.

"Closely spaced contour lines on the map showed a steep hillside."

verb

To shape something to follow a particular outline, or to apply makeup to sculpt the appearance of the face.

"She contoured her cheekbones with a shimmery bronze powder."

How to use contour

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe outer shape or edge of something, or shaping something to follow that outline.

Common pairings

body contours contour lines contour a face

Word forms

contoured past tense, contours plural, contours singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The dress was cut to follow the _____ of her body.

Etymology

Borrowed from French contour, from contourner, built from con- plus tour ("turn").

Origin: French

Synonyms

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form shape configuration contour line conformation

Related words

make state course body form type figure create

Rhymes for contour

our hour four your pour sour tour dour flour scour odour amour

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Frequently asked questions

What does “contour” mean?

The word “contour” means the outline or shape of something, especially a curved edge. In plain terms, the outer shape or edge of something, or shaping something to follow that outline.

How do you pronounce “contour”?

“Contour” is pronounced KON-taw (/ˈkɒntɔː/ in IPA).

How do you use “contour” in a sentence?

Here is “contour” used in a sentence: “The dress was cut to follow the contours of her body.”

What part of speech is “contour”?

Depending on how it is used, “contour” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “contour” come from?

The word “contour” comes from French. Borrowed from French contour, from contourner, built from con- plus tour ("turn").

Is “contour” a common word?

“Contour” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “contour” have?

“Contour” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the outline or shape of something, especially a curved edge.

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