A smooth, bending line or shape that is not straight. As a verb, it means to bend into such a shape.
From Latin 'curvus' meaning 'bent, crooked'. It entered English through French forms like 'courbe'.
A curve is what happens when a straight line changes its mind. Nature loves curves—think of rivers, rainbows, and the path of a thrown ball.
'Curves' has often been used in objectifying ways to refer to women’s bodies, reinforcing narrow beauty standards and sexualizing descriptions. This usage contrasts with neutral mathematical or geometric senses of 'curve.'
Use 'curve' neutrally in mathematical, graphical, or physical contexts; avoid using it to reduce people, especially women, to body shapes or sexualized imagery.
["line on a graph","trajectory","arc"]
When discussing body diversity, prefer respectful, person-first language rather than focusing on 'curves' as an objectifying descriptor.
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