concave

1 of 2

adjective

con·​cave kän-ˈkāv  ˈkän-ˌkāv 

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 

: a concave line or surface

Synonyms of concave

Adjective

• hollow
• sunken
• depressed
• cupped

Examples of concave in a Sentence

Adjective

a concave lens

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Using a clean towel, apply a generous amount of food-safe mineral oil to the concave side. —Staff Author, Martha Stewart, 31 Mar. 2026

Lightly wet just the concave side of the board and place it on a damp kitchen towel on your countertop. —Lizzy Briskin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Jan. 2026

Noun

His third signature sneaker will also be accompanied by a foam mule with a concave arrows motif. —Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 11 June 2026

Two types of DMRs were used in this experiment: A convex pattern made of glass beads with diameters ranging from 38 to 53 micrometers (μm) and a concave pattern applied by sandblasting. —Ritsuko Kawai, Wired News, 24 May 2026

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

Phrases Containing concave

• convexo-concave
• plano-concave

Rhymes for concave

• agave
• behave
• conclave
• enclave
• engrave
• enslave
• forgave
• landgrave
• margrave
• shortwave
• aftershave
• architrave

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

con·​cave kän-ˈkāv, ˈkän-ˌ 

: hollowed or rounded inward like the inside of a bowl