concave

1 of 2

adjective

1
: hollowed or rounded inward like the inside of a bowl
a concave lens
2
: arched in : curving in
used of the side of a curve or surface on which neighboring normals to the curve or surface converge and on which lies the chord joining two neighboring points of the curve or surface

concave

2 of 2

noun

con·​cave ˈkän-ˌkāv How to pronounce concave (audio)
: a concave line or surface

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Using a retinoid in your skincare routine will stimulate collagen production to fill concave scars and soften the edges. Aryelle Siclait, Women's Health, 26 May 2023 In the new-look Tiffany, splashy art abounds: A concave, faceted stainless-steel Anish Kapoor wall sculpture in the third-floor wedding and engagement area seems tailor-made for celebratory ring-shopping selfies. Stephen Wallis, wsj.com, 20 Apr. 2023 With the concave side of the spoon facing the egg and the rounded side facing your shell, slide the spoon under and around the eggshell, applying a small amount of pressure and separating the shell from the egg. Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2023 The sheer line, for instance, starts off straight at the bow and then becomes a curved concave line at the center that swoops down toward the aft. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2023 In a sea of popular styles featuring arched tops and soft gold finishes, this mirror stands out with a concave curved top and a vibrant gold leaf frame. Kristina Mcguirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Mar. 2023 Known for its remarkable craftsmanship, the 38 mm 2499/101 is equipped with round chronograph pushers and a concave bezel. Louisa Ballhaus, Robb Report, 17 Mar. 2023 Designed with one concave side and three handles, it can be carried two ways: with both hands in front of the body (for heavier loads) or pressed against a hip (to free up one hand). Sarah Wolf Halverson, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Mar. 2023 This board is made with 7-ply maple and 2-ply bamboo for flexible riding, and its longboard shape is slightly concave, giving it extra stability and shock absorption. Kevin Cortez, Popular Mechanics, 11 July 2022
Noun
Traders are surrounded by six to 10 screen concaves, and there’s a different energy in there—tense, stressful and always on the verge of boiling point. Karl Rogers, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2023 Don’t get soil or water in the concave area. Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 25 Feb. 2021 The body is a durable nylon composite, and the traction treads are built right into the concave shape for added stability. Maggie Slepian, Popular Mechanics, 29 June 2022 The trophy is a regulation-size silver football mounted in a kicking position on a pyramid-like stand of three concave sides. Christopher Price, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Feb. 2023 In one room, there's a concave impression in a patch of cracked concrete. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 6 Feb. 2023 The tenuous gas flows in ribbons, sheets, and filaments, forming those incredibly intricate wisps, and all of this sits inside a concave hole scooped out of one side of a larger complex. Discover Magazine, 11 Dec. 2011 In the Wortham Foundation Gardens on the park's west side, the concave interiors of Doug Hollis' two limestone sculptures focus on sound waves. Robin Soslow, Chron, 28 Jan. 2023 The shoulder is a ball and socket joint, meaning the arm bone form a ball that glides around inside of the concave portion of the shoulder blade. Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 24 Jan. 2023 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English, from Latin concavus, from com- + cavus hollow — more at cave

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1552, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of concave was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near concave

Cite this Entry

“Concave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/concave. Accessed 5 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

concave

adjective
con·​cave
kän-ˈkāv,
ˈkän-ˌkāv
: hollowed or rounded inward like the inside of a bowl
concave lens
concavity
kän-ˈkav-ət-ē
noun

Medical Definition

concave

adjective
: hollowed or rounded inward like the inside of a bowl

More from Merriam-Webster on concave

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