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Definition of incurvate in English:

incurvate

Pronunciation /inˈkərˌvāt/ /ɪnˈkərˌveɪt/ /inˈkərvət/ /ɪnˈkərvət/

intransitive verb

[no object]

  • Curve inward.

    ‘the horn-shaped pathway incurvates’
    • ‘As for the intracellular end, interestingly, the horn-shaped pathway incurvates so that its exit is located almost to the side of the protein.’
    • ‘A short stature, ill composed, not very decent, a good large Face, palish Complexion, the Body fleshy or swelling, not very straight, but incurvating somewhat with the Head.’
    • ‘The leaf petiole incurvates, the lamina swells, the central bud loses its structure and the central inflorescence does not form.’
    • ‘The resilient wire 34 incurvates at predetermined angles so as to form the first end 38 and the second end 40.’
    • ‘This invention relates to improvements in vertical continuous casting or the casting technique of obtaining cast pieces by drawing a strand formed in a water-cooled mold downward without incurvating, and then cutting the strand.’
    turn, curve, incline, swing, veer, swerve, deviate, diverge, fork, change course

adjective

  • Curved inward.

    ‘the haft element is short and broad with an incurvate base’
    • ‘The results are in general agreement with the previous typological categories defined by Railey in showing a general progression from incurvate, thin specimens to excurvate, thicker forms through time.’
    • ‘These measurements were recorded because they allowed us to define such attributes as incurvate base, excurvate blade, etc. in a non-subjective manner.’
    • ‘A rather poorly known species, the incurvate emerald occupies a narrow range from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick west to Wisconsin.’
    • ‘The third sepal is saccate, with a slightly incurvate spur.’
    • ‘The base is ground and as mentioned above has a slight chip giving it an incurvate outline.’
    sunken, hollow, concave, indented, dented, pushed in, caved in, recessed, set back

Origin

Late Middle English (as an adjective): from Latin incurvat- ‘bent into a curve’, from the verb incurvare.