Thesaurus results for CONTOUR

Q: How does the noun 'contour' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of contour are outline , profile , and silhouette . While all these words mean "the line that bounds and gives form to something," contour stresses the quality of an outline or a bounding surface as being smooth, jagged, curving, or sharply angled. // a car with flowing contours

Q: In what contexts can 'outline' take the place of 'contour'?

The meanings of outline and contour largely overlap; however, outline applies to a line marking the outer limits or edges of a body or mass. // traced the outline of his hand

Q: When might 'profile' be a better fit than 'contour'?

Although the words profile and contour have much in common, profile suggests a varied and sharply defined outline against a lighter background. // a portrait of her face in profile

Q: Where would 'silhouette' be a reasonable alternative to 'contour'?

The words silhouette and contour are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, silhouette suggests a shape especially of a head or figure with all detail blacked out in shadow leaving only the outline clearly defined. // photograph in silhouette against a bright sky

contour

noun

ˈkän-ˌtu̇r

Definition of contour next

as in outline

a line that traces the outer limits of an object or surface a car with flowing contours

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the noun contour differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of contour are outline, profile, and silhouette. While all these words mean "the line that bounds and gives form to something," contour stresses the quality of an outline or a bounding surface as being smooth, jagged, curving, or sharply angled.

a car with flowing contours

In what contexts can outline take the place of contour?

The meanings of outline and contour largely overlap; however, outline applies to a line marking the outer limits or edges of a body or mass.

traced the outline of his hand

When might profile be a better fit than contour?

Although the words profile and contour have much in common, profile suggests a varied and sharply defined outline against a lighter background.

a portrait of her face in profile

Where would silhouette be a reasonable alternative to contour?

The words silhouette and contour are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, silhouette suggests a shape especially of a head or figure with all detail blacked out in shadow leaving only the outline clearly defined.

photograph in silhouette against a bright sky

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of contour The contours of the ceasefire deal struck this week were largely the same as those Biden announced in May 2024, after months of haggling between and Israel and Hamas over reaching another deal following a brief November 2023 truce that freed some 100 hostages. —

Brad Dress, The Hill, 18 Jan. 2025 During live gameplay, however, the players — and the general contours and colors of their outfits — are animated in a Nintendo Wii-esque style, as are the court, racquets, balls, umpires, ball people and spectators. —

Rachel Treisman, NPR, 17 Jan. 2025 Essentially, the tufts of tiny hairs on gecko feet get so close to the contours in walls and ceilings that electrons from the gecko hair molecules and electrons from the wall molecules interact with each other and create an electromagnetic attraction. —

Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 4 Feb. 2025 Lidar emits laser pulses from an aircraft, allowing for images that penetrate vegetation and reveal the contours beneath. —

Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for contour