recurve

1 of 2

noun

re·​curve ˈrē-ˌkərv How to pronounce recurve (audio)
plural recurves
1
: an archery bow with tips that curve away from the string side when the bow is not strung
Primitive bows are simply a stick and string; a recurve adds a curve on each limb of the bow.Will Elliott
often used before another noun
a recurve bow
2
: a curve in a backward or reverse direction
A number of computer models indicate that the storm may cross the Florida peninsula and enter the Gulf of Mexico … . A recurve to the north into Georgia is a possibility …Pam Knox

recurve

2 of 2

verb

recurved; recurving; recurves

intransitive verb

: to curve or turn in a backward or reverse direction
especially, of a weather disturbance : to reverse the direction of travel by curving back
… it's common for a hurricane like Irma to near the East Coast but then recurve away, after hitting a force field in the form of westerly winds at the upper levels of the atmosphere. Andrew Freedman

Examples of recurve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The range offers $20 rentals of recurve bows – the more traditional kind, not as complicated as a compound – which comes with introductory coaching. Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2024 The blade has a slight recurve shape and at the spine measures nearly 0.20-inch thick. Jim Cobb, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024 The data shown is the average of the top 10 men’s scorers in qualification rounds of outdoor recurve archery competitions. Ben Blatt Courtney Cox, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2023 Excalibur Crossbow Excalibur continues to stick with tradition and utilize classic recurve crossbow limbs. Tony Hansen, Field & Stream, 3 Aug. 2023 The Bulldog 440 spits arrows at 440 fps, which is blistering for a recurve. Tony Hansen, Field & Stream, 19 July 2023 The Legolas has an embedded recurve bow string and The Sauron contains lava rock. Leto Sapunar, The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 Dec. 2022 Olympic archer's typically compete in Olympic recurve, in which the bows have a few additional pieces. Lauren Hertz, The Arizona Republic, 24 Sep. 2022 Then there are recurve bows with curved tips that create more energy than the longbow. Patrick Cooke, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Nov. 2021
Verb
Beyond that, all major hurricane models that meteorologists use to forecast storms indicate that Lee will recurve away from Florida. Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2023 Then its likely to recurve to the north per guidance members. Leigh Morgan, al, 4 Sep. 2023 Around age 14, when the son switched over to recurve—the style contested in Olympic archery contests that is most emphasized by USA Archery—his intuitive feel for the bow propelled him to podium finishes and earned him an invitation to join the national body’s Junior Dream Team. Laine Higgins, WSJ, 27 Dec. 2021 Earl is forecast to recurve to the east and away from the U.S. Leigh Morgan, al, 4 Sep. 2022 The long-range path suggest Earl could recurve to the north and steer clear of the U.S. Leigh Morgan, al, 2 Sep. 2022 That's because systems that get strong have a greater tendency to recurve out to sea rather than keep moving westward towards the Caribbean. Jeff Berardelli, CBS News, 24 Sep. 2021 Expecting the storm to recurve eastward, as most Atlantic tropical storms did, Weather Bureau forecasters in Washington issued warnings to the eastern Gulf Coast, Florida, and southern states on the Atlantic. Daniel Pendick, Discover Magazine, 13 Sep. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recurve.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1610, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of recurve was in 1610

Dictionary Entries Near recurve

Cite this Entry

“Recurve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recurve. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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