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ines representing such an outline; the line that bounds; periphery. Titian's coloring and contours. A. Drummond.

Turned in a direction which is not the usual one; -- said of an animal turned to the sinister which is usually turned to the dexter, or the like.

Having furrowed edges, as if turned in a lathe.

A species of medal or medallion of bronze, having a deep furrow on the contour or edge; -- supposed to have been struck in the days of Constantine and his successors. R. S. Poole.

An instrument for making tracings of the outline or contour of profiles, moldings, etc.

Exhibiting a sharp, frigid preciseness of execution, or the want of a delicate contour in form, and of easy transition in coloring. Dry area (Arch.), a small open space reserved outside the foundation of a building to guard it from damp. -- Dry blow. (a) (Med.) A blow which inflicts no wound, and causes no effusion of…

One of the peculiar dermal appendages, of several kinds, belonging to birds, as contour feathers, quills, and down.

That branch of surveying which embraces the determination of the contour of the bottom of a harbor or other sheet of water, the depth of soundings, the position of channels and shoals, with the construction of charts exhibiting these particulars.

An accessory plume arising from the posterior side of the stem of the contour feathers of many birds; -- called also aftershaft. See Illust. of Feather.

The exterior limit of a figure, plat, or territory; boundary; contour; outline. Eden stretched her line From Auran eastward to the royal towers Of great Seleucia. Milton.

The line which marks the outer limits of an object or figure; the exterior line or edge; contour.

An outline, or contour; as, the profile of an apple.

The operation of finding the contour, dimensions, position, or other particulars of, as any part of the earth's surface, whether land or water; also, a measured plan and description of any portion of country, or of a road or line through it. Survey of dogs. See Court of regard, under Regard. -- Trigonometrical survey,…

any portion of the earth's surface, the length and directions of the bounding lines, the contour of the surface, etc., with an accurate delineation of the whole on paper; the act or occupation of making surveys. Geodetic surveying, geodesy. -- Maritime, or Nautical, surveying, that branch of surveying which determine…

line of continuous maximum descent from any point on a land surface, or that cutting all contours and angles.

Turn; contour; figure.