Cur″va‐ture (k?r″v?–t?r; 135), n. [L. curvatura. See Curvate.] 1. The act of curving, or the state of being bent or curved; a curving or bending, normal or abnormal, as of a line or surface from a rectilinear direction; a bend; a curve. Cowper.
The elegant curvature of their fronds.
Darwin.
2. (Math.) The amount of degree of bending of a mathematical curve, or the tendency at any point to depart from a tangent drawn to the curve at that point.
Aberrancy of curvature(Geom.), the deviation of a curve from a circular form. — Absolute curvature. See under Absolute. — Angle of curvature(Geom.), one that expresses the amount of curvature of a curve. — Chord of curvature. See under Chord. — Circle of curvature. See Osculating circle of a curve, under Circle. — Curvature of the spine(Med.), an abnormal curving of the spine, especially in a lateral direction. — Radius of curvature, the radius of the circle of curvature, or osculatory circle, at any point of a curve.