recurve

1 of 2

noun

re·​curve ˈrē-ˌkərv 

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

Alicia McCarthy, a forensic scientist hired by the defense, points to a characteristic called a recurve on footprint E2. —Jordan Kinsey, CBS News, 17 May 2025

Nowadays, the recurve is often the bow of choice for recreational archery. —Rona Berg, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

Verb

Recent computer model runs have showed the storm may track into the Canadian Maritimes, rather than recurving out into the North Atlantic Ocean. —Andrew Freedman, Axios, 14 Aug. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1610, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for recurve

• conserve
• deserve
• manoeuvre
• observe
• preserve
• reserve
• subserve
• curve
• mirv
• nerve
• serve
• swerve