Allen curve

noun

A graphical representation that reveals the exponential drop in frequency of communication between engineers as the distance between them increases.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounAllen curve (plural Allen curves)

plural Allen curves

  1. communication theoryA graphical representation that reveals the exponential drop in frequency of communication between engineers as the distance between them increases.

Origin

Discovered by Professor Thomas J. Allen in the late 1970s.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Portuguese curva de Allen
  • curva de Allenthe exponential drop in frequency of communication between engineers as the distance between them increases
Cite this entry
APA

Allen curve. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Allen%20curve

MLA

“Allen curve.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Allen%20curve. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Allen curve,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Allen%20curve.

Source: Allen curve on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.