incurvate

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/ˈɪŋkə(ɹ)vɪt//ˈɪŋkə(ɹ)veɪt/

adjective

bending inwards.

“He noted that the flower's petals were incurvate.”

Similar
incurvedcurvedcurving
OriginLatin incurvātus →
Scrabble 14
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Meanings

adjectiveincurvate (comparative more incurvate, superlative most incurvate)

comparative more incurvate · superlative most incurvate

  1. bending inwards.

    He noted that the flower's petals were incurvate.

  2. Curved; bent; crooked.
verbincurvate (third-person singular simple present incurvates, present participle incurvating, simple past and past participle incurvated)

present singular third person incurvates · participle present incurvating · participle past incurvated · past incurvated

  1. transitiveTo bend (especially inwards); to give a curved shape to.

    Mr. Flamsteed's measures were taken with a micrometer that pinches or clasps the opposite edges of a planet which would incurvate the rays one way

    1713, W[illiam] Derham, Physico-Theology: Or, A Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God, from His Works of Creation. […], London: […] W[illiam] Innys, […], →OCLC
  2. intransitiveto have a curved or bent shape; to bend or curve inwards.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivebent into or having an inward curve

Similar
incurvedcurvedcurving
Also see
bendcurbincurved

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinincurvātus
  2. Englishincurvate

The verb is first attested in 1578, the adjective in 1647; borrowed from Latin incurvātus, perfect passive participle of incurvō, see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (verb-forming suffix).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“incurvate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/incurvate. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “incurvate,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/incurvate.

Source: incurvate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.