contour en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈkɑntɔɹ/ pour–poor merger
- /ˈkɒntʉːə/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
- /ˈkɔntʉːə/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
- /ˈkɑntʊɹ/
- /ˈkɒntʊə/ without the pour–poor merger
- /ˈkɒntɔː/ pour–poor merger
- (US) audio
- /ˈkɑntʊɚ/ without the pour–poor merger
Etymology
Borrowed from French contour, from contourner, equivalent to con- + tour.
Meanings
-
An outline, boundary or border, usually of curved shape.
The semi-streamlined contour of the earlier G.W.R. railcars has been given up in favour of a more utilitarian blunt-nose end, and effective floor space gained thereby.
1941 October, “Notes and News: Great Western Parcels Railcar”, in Railway Magazine, page 474:the low drag contour of a modern automobile
- 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.
- a speech sound which behaves as a single segment, but which makes an internal transition from one quality, place, or manner to another.
-
(figuratively) A general description giving the most important points.
Contours of a deal with conservative holdouts who had been blocking McCarthy’s rise had emerged the night before, and took hold after four dismal days and 14 failed votes in an intraparty standoff unseen in modern times.
January 7 2023, Lisa Mascaro, Farnoush Amiri, “McCarthy elected House speaker in rowdy post-midnight vote”, in AP News:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| contours | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
recontour · contour diaper · contourless · contour integral · contour feather · contourite · contourable · contourlet · contour gauge · contour interval · isocontour · executive contour · contour map · contour chase
Synonyms
Translations (41)
de Isohypse (line on a map or chart) · ru а́брис (outline, boundary or border) · it contorno (outline, boundary or border) · lo ໂສມ (outline, boundary or border) · ru изоли́ния (line on a map or chart) · bg очерта́ние (outline, boundary or border) · mk оцрт (outline, boundary or border) · ru очерта́ние (outline, boundary or border) · ota چوره (outline, boundary or border) · vi đường nét (outline, boundary or border) · it profilo (outline, boundary or border) · es contorno (outline, boundary or border) · pt contorno (outline, boundary or border) · de Höhenschichtlinie (line on a map or chart) · fi ääriviiva (outline, boundary or border) · mk контура (outline, boundary or border) · de Höhenlinie (line on a map or chart) · de Kontur (outline, boundary or border) · pl kontur (outline, boundary or border) · nb høydekurve (line on a map or chart) · de Höhenlinien (line on a map or chart) · ru ко́нтур (outline, boundary or border) · vi đường đồng mức (line on a map or chart) · vi đường viền (outline, boundary or border) · de Niveaulinie (line on a map or chart) · el ισοϋψής (line on a map or chart) · cmn 輪廓 /轮廓 (outline, boundary or border) · eo konturo (outline, boundary or border) · fi korkeuskäyrä (line on a map or chart) · cy amlinell (outline, boundary or border) · bg конту́р (line on a map or chart) · bg конту́р (outline, boundary or border) · ms kontur (outline, boundary or border) · cy amlinell (line on a map or chart) · fr contour (outline, boundary or border) · ja 輪郭 (outline, boundary or border) · pl izolinia (line on a map or chart) · fr ligne de niveau (line on a map or chart) · ga comhrian (line on a map or chart) · ms garisan kontur (line on a map or chart) · mi hua (line on a map or chart)