contour

contour, profil

Forme ou bord extérieur de quelque chose, particulièrement lorsqu'il présente des courbes.

En anglais simple : The outside shape or edge of something, especially when it curves.

• I could see the hill’s contour.
• The dress followed the contours of her body.
• Soft light revealed the contours of his face.

Comment l'utiliser : contour of something (The contour of the coastline appeared on the screen.)

Synonymes : outline, shape, profile

Expressions courantes : contour of something, facial contour, smooth contour

contour

Ligne dessinée qui suit le bord extérieur d'une forme.

En anglais simple : A drawn line that follows the outside edge of a shape.

• Draw a contour around the leaf.
• The artist used one continuous contour.
• She traced the contours with a fine pencil.

Synonymes : outline

Expressions courantes : contour drawing, draw a contour, trace a contour

courbe de niveau

Ligne sur une carte reliant des points de même altitude ou de même valeur mesurée.

En anglais simple : A line on a map joining places at the same height, or with the same measured value.

• Each contour shows a different height.
• Close contours indicate a steep slope.
• We followed the contour line across the map.

Synonymes : contour line

Expressions courantes : contour line, contour map, contour interval

façonner, dessiner les contours

Dessiner le bord extérieur de quelque chose ou lui donner une forme courbe particulière.

En anglais simple : To draw an outside edge or give something a particular curved shape.

• They contour each seat by hand.
• She contoured the edge with a pencil.
• The cushion was contoured to fit his back.

Comment l'utiliser : contour something to fit something (They contoured the seat to fit the rider’s body.)

Synonymes : shape, outline

Expressions courantes : contour a seat, contour something to, contour the edges