Bezier curve

noun

variants or less commonly Bézier curve

: a mathematical curve that is often used in computer graphics to model fluid shapes and in animation

And it's human beings who create art, not the polygons and Bezier curves of digital technology.

—Jack Kroll, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2000

What is more, a technical standard for representing letters which uses Bezier curves does not depend on any characteristic of the machine which is doing the printing: the same set of curves can be used to drive a professional typesetter or a cheap laser-printer …

—The Economist, 25 May 1991

Word History

Etymology

after Pierre Étienne Bézier †1999 French engineer, who popularized their use

First Known Use

1982, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!