convex

comparative more convex · superlative most convex

1. Curved or bowed outward like the outside of a bowl, circle, or sphere.

   [D]rops of water naturally form themselves into figures with a convex surface; […]

   1837, William Whewell, “Earliest Stages of Astronomy”, in History of the Inductive Sciences, from the Earliest to the Present Times. […], volume I, London: John W[illiam] Parker, […]; Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: J. and J. J. Deighton, →OCLC, book III (History of Greek Astronomy), section 9 (The Globular Form of the Earth), page 150

2. not comparablefunctional analysishaving an epigraph that is a convex set.
3. not comparablegeometryhaving no internal angles greater than 180 degrees.
4. not comparablemathematicsarranged such that for any two points in the set, a straight line between the two points is contained within the set.

plural convexes

1. Any convex body or surface.

   Half heaven's convex glitters with the flame.

   1714, Royal Progress, Thomas Tickell

2. gamblingA playing card made convex for use in cheating.
3. gamblingA small convex mirror used to cheat by observing other players' cards.

   Of all the devices for defrauding at poker, the “shiner,” or “convex” […] Modern convexes are also considerably larger than those of former days.

   2019, John Philip Quinn, Fools of Fortune; or, Gambling and Gamblers

   Synonyms: shiner

present singular third person convexes · participle present convexing · participle past convexed · past convexed

1. intransitiveTo form a convex curve or surface; to become convex.

   With thin metal flashing, as it expands, the metal between the fasteners will convex.

   1998, James Stephen Hardy, Stephen T. Hardy, Time-saver Details for Roof Design, page 247

   2 more examples

   In like manner the north pier will convex seaward, extending across the bay to the extent of 1000 feet from low water, terminating in about eight fathoms, leaving a clear entrance of 500 feet between the pier heads, the depth of the entrance being from seven to eight fathoms.

   1859 November, “Harbours of Refuge”, in The United Service Magazine, page 347

   If the valve is ground excessively, the surfaces of the valve and cage will convex so that the sealing contact is poor.

   1926, David Louis Jones, Diesel Engines, Marine--locomotive--stationary, page 502

2. transitiveTo cause to form a convex curve or surface; to make convex.

   This will convex the fan and hold the cards more rigidly in place.

   1945, John Northern Hilliard, Card Magic: A Practical Treatise on Modern Card Conjuring, page 19

   2 more examples

   The back edge of the saw being under the lip of the cleat, use the anvil for a fulcrum and press down on the edge of the saw opposite, which will convex the plate, as the springing up concaved it, and the action of the fast and loose will be the reverse; that is, the fast will go down and the loose come up.

   1898 March, Junius, “Tension in Saws”, in The Wood-worker, volume 17, number 1, page 24

   In one moment the body will convex the checkered blanket, and later—the featureless absence;

   2012, Tamir Greenberg, “Elegy”, in Poets on the Edge: An Anthology of Contemporary Hebrew Poetry, page 295

3. ambitransitiveTo circulate or cause to circulate in a curved path; to cause or exhibit convection.

   The lid on will convex the heat and you'll need that after it's been chilled.

   2014, Amy-Elyse Neer, The Seven Things Cookbook, page 96

   1 more example

   The crystal/melt interface thus convexes into the melt; however, the convexity of the interface ( Figure 53 ) is not as strong as it is when the crucible does not rotate (Figure 52).

   2011, Comprehensive Semiconductor Science and Technology, page 156