Contour

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: con=tour

CIDE DICTIONARY

Contour, n. [F. contour, fr. contourner to mark the outlines; con- + tourner to turn. See Turn.].

•  The outline of a figure or body, or the line or lines representing such an outline; the line that bounds; periphery.  [1913 Webster]

  "Titian's coloring and contours."  [1913 Webster]
•  The outline of a horizontal section of the ground, or of works of fortification.  [1913 Webster]

Contour feathers (Zoöl.), those feathers that form the general covering of a bird. -- Contour of ground (Surv.), the outline of the surface of ground with respect to its undulation, etc. -- Contour line (Topographical Suv.), the line in which a horizontal plane intersects a portion of ground, or the corresponding line in a map or chart.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Contour, n. & v.
--n.
1 an outline, esp. representing or bounding the shape or form of something.
2 the outline of a natural feature, e.g. a coast or mountain mass.
3 a line separating differently coloured parts of a design.
--v.tr.
1 mark with contour lines.
2 carry (a road or railway) round the side of a hill.

Idiom

contour line a line on a map joining points of equal altitude. contour map a map marked with contour lines. contour ploughing ploughing along lines of constant altitude to minimize soil erosion.

Etymology

F f. It. contorno f. contornare draw in outline (as COM-, tornare turn)

THESAURUS

Contour

broad lines, configuration, delineate, delineation, features, figuration, figure, framework, galbe, gestalt, limn, line, lineaments, lineation, lines, main features, outline, profile, relief, shapes, silhouette, skeleton, tournure

ROGET THESAURUS

Contour

Outline

N outline, circumference, perimeter, periphery, ambit, circuit, lines tournure, contour, profile, silhouette, bounds, coast line, zone, belt, girth, band, baldric, zodiac, girdle, tyre, cingle, clasp, girt, cordon, circlet.

Form

N form, figure, shape, conformation, configuration, make, formation, frame, construction, cut, set, build, trim, cut of one's jib, stamp, type, cast, mold, fashion, contour, structure, plasmature, feature, lineament, turn, phase, posture, attitude, pose, morphism, isomorphism, forming, formation, figuration, efformation, sculpture, plasmation, formed, plastic, fictile, formative, fluid, plasmic, isomorphous, pleomorphic, protean, changeable.

Appearance

N appearance, phenomenon, sight, spectacle, show, premonstration, scene, species, view, coup d'oeil, lookout, outlook, prospect, vista, perspective, bird's-eye view, scenery, landscape, picture, tableau, display, exposure, mise en sc ne, rising of the curtain, phantasm, phantom, pageant, spectacle, peep-show, raree-show, gallanty-show, ombres chinoises, magic lantern, phantasmagoria, dissolving views, biograph, cinematograph, moving pictures, panorama, diorama, cosmorama, georama, coup de theatre, jeu de theatre, pageantry, insignia, aspect, angle, phase, phasis, seeming, shape, guise, look, complexion, color, image, mien, air, cast, carriage, port, demeanor, presence, expression, first blush, face of the thing, point of view, light, lineament feature trait lines, outline, outside, contour, face, countenance, physiognomy, visage, phiz, cast of countenance, profile, tournure, cut of one s jib, metoposcopy, outside, apparent, seeming, ostensible, on view, apparently, to all seeming, to all appearance, ostensibly, seemingly, as it seems, on the face of it, prima facie, at the first blush, at first sight, in the eyes of, to the eye, editio princeps.