Translate contour | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish Definition of contour
noun
(usually contours) an outline, especially one representing or bounding the shape or form of something:she traced the contours of his face with her finger figurativethe contours of American life an outline of a natural feature such as a hill or valley:cliffs with grassy rounded contours a line joining points on a diagram at which some property has the same value:the map shows contours of every 10-foot difference in elevation a way in which something varies, especially the pitch of music or the pattern of tones in an utterance:the movement tends to place more emphasis on rhythm than melodic contour
verb
[with object] 1 (usually
be contoured)
mold into a specific shape, typically one designed to fit into something else:the compartment has been contoured with smooth rounded corners (as adjective contoured)the contoured leather seats
2mark (a map or diagram) with contour lines: (as adjective contoured)a huge contoured map
3(of a road or railroad) follow the outline of (a topographical feature), especially along a contour line:the road contours the hillside
