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The art of measuring shells or their curves; conchyliometry.

Of or pertaining to a cone; as, conic sections. Conic section (Geom.), a curved line formed by the intersection of the surface of a right cone and a plane. The conic sections are the parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola. The right lines and the circle which result from certain positions of the plane are sometimes, though n…

That branch of geometry which treats of the cone and the curves which arise from its sections.

ed in pure and applied mathematics with reference to two quantities, points, lines, axes, curves, etc. Conjugate axis of a hyperbola (Math.), the line through the center of the curve, perpendicular to the line through the two foci. -- Conjugate diameters (Conic Sections), two diameters of an ellipse or hyperbola such…

straight line moving in such a manner as always to meet a given straight line and a given curve, and continue parallel to a given plane. Math. Dict.

The property of two curves, or surfaces, which meet, and at the point of meeting have a common direction.

and made convergent. Boyle. The vast dome of its cathedral . . . directing its convergent curves to heaven. Hallam.

ical or rounded form; regularly protuberant or bulging; -- said of a spherical surface or curved line when viewed from without, in opposition to concave. Drops of water naturally form themselves into figures with a convex surface. Whewell. Double convex, convex on both sides; convexo-convex.

Convex on one side, and concave on the other. The curves of the convex and concave sides may be alike or may be different. See Meniscus.

Having convolutions. beaks recurved and convoluted like a ram's horn. Pennant.

nes, or other elements of reference, by means of which the position of any point, as of a curve, is defined with respect to certain fixed lines, or planes, called coördinate axes and coördinate planes. See Abscissa.

A fossil shell, curved like a ram's horn; an obsolete name for an ammonite.

The curved line or flourish at the end of a book or chapter; hence, the end. [R.] Bp. Hacket.

A curvet. Peacham.

Curved; rounded. [Obs.] Her neck is short, her shoulders courb. Gower.

A member, whose section is a concave curve, used especially with regard to an inner roof or ceiling, as around a skylight.

A piece of wood having a curve corresponding to that of the upper part of the instep, on which the upper leather of a boot is stretched to give it the requisite shape.

The upper curve of a horse's neck. Throwing the base thong from his bending crest. Shak.

One who, or that which, crimps; as: (a) A curved board or frame over which the upper of a boot or shoe is stretched to the required shape. (b) A device for giving hair a wavy apperance. (c) A machine for crimping or ruffling textile fabrics.

An ornament often resembling curved and bent foliage, projecting from the sloping edge of a gable, spire, etc.