contour line
noun
: a line (as on a map) connecting the points on a land surface that have the same elevation
Examples of contour line in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 1817, Alexander von Humboldt used similar contour lines to show global temperature variation.
—
Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 23 Jan. 2025
The artwork required 10 prototypes to get right, and is made from stainless steel that was darkened using a process called physical vapor deposition, with contour lines engraved into the bright metal beneath.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2024
The raw data itself is difficult to understand as anything but abstract numbers, so scientists use contour lines to give the idea of shape, like the purple seen here.
—Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010
This style lends itself to the texture of the planet and really understanding the volume and how things move, with the contour lines outlining the bark and the different foliage.
—Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Oct. 2023
Finally, contour lines mark changes in size, or magnitude, as on a topographical map.
—Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 21 Sep. 2023
Pull out the poppers rainbow flags, blend out your contour lines, and throw on a foreign film with explicit gay scenes, because tonight is a night for the —.
—Vulture, 11 June 2023
Notice how the contour line values on the map below (which represent the height of the atmosphere) get lower and lower heading toward the Great Lakes.
—A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 17 Dec. 2022
No one annihilates the contour line more effectively, so what seems blurry and incomprehensible demands a close look.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 26 Feb. 2022
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Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 23 Jan. 2025
The artwork required 10 prototypes to get right, and is made from stainless steel that was darkened using a process called physical vapor deposition, with contour lines engraved into the bright metal beneath.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2024
The raw data itself is difficult to understand as anything but abstract numbers, so scientists use contour lines to give the idea of shape, like the purple seen here.
—Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010
This style lends itself to the texture of the planet and really understanding the volume and how things move, with the contour lines outlining the bark and the different foliage.
—Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Oct. 2023
Finally, contour lines mark changes in size, or magnitude, as on a topographical map.
—Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 21 Sep. 2023
Pull out the poppers rainbow flags, blend out your contour lines, and throw on a foreign film with explicit gay scenes, because tonight is a night for the —.
—Vulture, 11 June 2023
Notice how the contour line values on the map below (which represent the height of the atmosphere) get lower and lower heading toward the Great Lakes.
—A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 17 Dec. 2022
No one annihilates the contour line more effectively, so what seems blurry and incomprehensible demands a close look.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 26 Feb. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Contour line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contour%20line. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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