collocations.org

Collocations for curve - noun

1. line or surface that bends

ADJECTIVE

gentle, graceful, slight, smooth, soft
sharp, tight
sweeping, wide
sensual, voluptuous
the voluptuous curve of her hips
feminine curves, womanly curves
downward, upward
natural
the natural curve of your spine

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VERB + curve

form, make
The seats were arranged to form a curve.

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PREPOSITION

in a curve
The road follows the coast in a wide curve.
curve of
the curve of his neck

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PHRASES

hug sb's curves
The evening dress hugged her curves beautifully.

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2. (AmE) bend in the road

ADJECTIVE

sharp, tight
The road went around in a tight curve.

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VERB + curve

come around, hug, negotiate, round
He slowed down to negotiate the curve.

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PREPOSITION

around a/the curve
The car vanished around a curve.
at a/the curve
Slow down at the curves.
into a/the curve
A good motorcyclist leans into the curves.
curve in
a curve in the road

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3. on a graph

ADJECTIVE

steep
bell
normal, standard
growth
grading (= of students' grades)
learning (= the rate at which you learn sth new)
Start-up businesses often have a steep learning curve.

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VERB + curve

plot

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curve + VERB

flatten out
indicate sth, show sth

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PHRASES

grade on a curve (= to adjust scores so that they fit a normal curve)

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Collocations for curve - verb

ADVERB

gently, slightly
a gently curving stream
gracefully
strongly
sharply
away, down, up
The path curved down to the bay.

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PREPOSITION

around, round (esp. BrE), towards/toward, etc.
The road curved away around the back of the hill.

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PHRASES

curve into a smile
His mouth curved into a smile.

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Curve is used with these nouns as the subject:
lip, mouth, road, street

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Curve is used with these nouns as the object:
spine

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