1660s, a term in painting and sculpture, from French contour "circumference, outline," from Italian and Medieval Latin contornare "to go around," from Latin com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + tornare "to turn (on a lathe);" see turn (v.).
First recorded application to topography is from 1769. Earlier the word was used to mean "bedspread, quilt" (early 15c.) in reference to its falling over the sides of the mattress. Related: Contoured. Contour line in geography is from 1844.
实用例句
1. There were three moderate climbs to just below the 450 feet contour.
刚好在450英尺的等高线之下有3个缓坡。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The contour of the Atlantic coast of America is very irregular.
美国沿太平洋的海岸线非常曲折.
来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
3. Contour is NASA's second mission dedicated to studying comets.
