Cur"va*ture (k?r"v?-t?r; 135), n. [L. curvatura. See Curvate.]
1.
The act of curving, or the state of being bent or curved; a curving or bending, normal or abnormal, as of a line or surface from a rectilinear direction; a bend; a curve.
Cowper.
The elegant curvature of their fronds.
Darwin.
2. Math.
The amount of degree of bending of a mathematical curve, or the tendency at any point to depart from a tangent drawn to the curve at that point.
Aberrancy of curvature Geom., the deviation of a curve from a curcular form. -Absolute curvature. See under Absolute. -- Angle of curvature Geom., one that expresses the amount of curvature of a curve. -- Chord of curvature. See under Chord. -- Circle of curvature. See Osculating circle of a curve, under Circle. -- Curvature of the spine Med., an abnormal curving of the spine, especially in a lateral direction. -- Radius of curvature, the radius of the circle of curvature, or osculatory circle, at any point of a curve.
© Webster 1913.