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Glite Dictionary
decurved

decurved

9.4
Bent downward, often describing a bird's beak or a petal
  • adjective
  • /dɪˈkɜrvd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : decurvado
  • The curlew is known for its long, decurved bill.

Examples

  • The curlew is known for its long, decurved bill.

  • The bird’s decurved beak allows it to forage for food in the mud.

  • He studied the decurved petals of the rare tropical flower.

  • The bird has a decurved beak that helps it catch fish.

  • Look at the decurved bill of that pelican!

  • The bird’s decurved beak allows it to forage for food in the mud.

  • The bird has a decurved beak that helps it catch fish.

Synonyms

downcurved
vsdecurved
4.4

Bending down so the tip points toward the ground

is mainly used for beaks and similar structures
downward-arching
vsdecurved
6.8

Curving down like a bow

describes a general bend toward the ground rather than an arch
declivitous
vsdecurved
9.9

A steep slope that goes down a hill

describes a downward bend without implying steepness

Surface Forms

decurved positive

Morphology

decurved = curved (semi-transparent) = de + curve + ed

The connection to 'curved' is clear, but the prefix 'de-' meaning 'downward' is not very familiar or productive for many learners.

Etymology

The word decurved comes from de- meaning 'down' and curv meaning 'bend', the same root as in curve. So a decurved petal or beak is bent downward, like a bird's bill that points toward the ground.